amethyst English · revision 2398

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæm.ə.θɪst/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|amatiste]],^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[bor|fro|ametiste]]^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) and [[la-med|amatistus]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) [[der|la|amethystus]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|ἀμέθυστος|tr=améthustos|t=not intoxicating]],^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[af|grc|ἀ-|μεθύσκειν|tr1=a-|tr2=methúskein|t1=not|t2=to make drunk]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995) from ''méthu'' “wine”,^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|ine-pro|*medhu-|t=honey; mead]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD) The stone was believed to prevent drunkenness.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)^(Barnhart 1995) The spelling with ''-th-'' was restored in early Modern English.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A precious stone of clear purple or bluish-violet colour (c1290).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The ancients wore amethyst while drinking to ward off intoxication;^(Etymonline) Etymonline suggests this was sympathetic magic prompted by its wine-like colour.^(Etymonline) The name has stayed attached to the gem, and was extended to its colour, first in heraldry (1572),^(OED 1989) and to a rare violet variety of corundum (1753).^(OED 1989)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c1290 – a purple or bluish-violet precious stone.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1572 – ''(heraldry)'' the colour purple.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1601 – used attributively, “amethyst-coloured”.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1753 – ''oriental amethyst'', a violet variety of corundum.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A purple or violet variety of quartz, used as a gemstone.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A purple variety of corundum used as a gem.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A moderate or purplish violet colour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having the colour of amethyst.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[amethystine]]

+ * [[amethystlike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mead]]

+ * [[methyl]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}