amethystus Latin · revision 4015

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Ovid|origins=grc ἀμέθυστος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [a.mɛˈtʰys.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [a.meˈtis.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''amethystus''' ''f'' (genitive amethystī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἀμέθυστος|tr=améthustos|t=amethyst]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Saalfeld 1874) The Greek word is the noun use of an adjective meaning “not intoxicating”, from [[m|grc|ἀ-|tr=a-|t=not]] and [[m|grc|μεθύσκω|tr=methúskō|t=to make drunk]].^(Etymonline) Etymonline notes that the stone was believed to prevent drunkenness.^(Etymonline) Pliny discusses the reasons for the name.^(Georges 1913)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Ovid, in the Art of Love, says that a certain colour imitates purple amethysts.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Ovid 43 BC–18 AD.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was the violet-blue precious stone, described at length by Pliny.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Georges notes that the ancient amethyst was cloudier and more spotted than the hyacinth, which is the modern amethyst.^(Georges 1913) Columella and Pliny use it of a vine that some Greeks called so because its wine did not make people drunk.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

+

+ The Vulgate has it in Exodus and in Revelation.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Medieval Latin used it allegorically and also of the bloodstone, with spellings such as ''amatistus''.^(MLW)^(DMLBS)^(Etymonline) English ''amethyst'' is recorded in the late 13th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid mentions purple amethysts.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella uses it of a vine.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder describes the stone.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 390–406 AD – The Vulgate names it in Exodus and Revelation.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 13th century – English ''amethyst'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[m|en|amethyst]], a violet-blue precious stone.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A kind of [[m|en|vine]] said to yield a wine that does not intoxicate.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' The [[m|en|bloodstone]].^(MLW)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|amethyst]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}