emerald English · revision 785

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɛm.(ə.)ɹəld/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|emeraude]], later ''emeralde'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[bor|fro|esmeraude]], ''emeraude'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|la-med|esmaraldus]], ''esmeralda'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) an alteration of [[la|smaragdus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[der|grc|σμάραγδος|tr=smáragdos|t=green gem]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) ultimately from a Semitic word meaning “to shine, flash” (compare Hebrew ''bāreqet'' “emerald”, Arabic ''barq'' “lightning”).^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The spelling with ''-ld'' probably reflects Italian or Spanish influence in the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A precious stone of bright green colour (c. 1300 in the OED and Etymonline; probably before 1300 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In early examples the word, like most names of precious stones, is vague in meaning, and does not necessarily refer to a green stone;^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) medieval references often depend on classical descriptions of the ''smaragdus'', whose identity with the modern emerald is doubtful.^(Etymonline) In modern use the word is restricted to a green variety of [[beryl]].^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) The colour sense, “emerald green”, dates from 1712,^(OED 1989) and the adjective from 1508.^(MW Collegiate) The ''Emerald Isle'', for Ireland, from its green landscape, dates from 1795.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The word also names a size of printing type and several green hummingbirds.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – ''emeraude'', a green precious stone.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1413 – ''emeralde''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1508 – adjective, bright green.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1712 – the colour emerald green.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1795 – ''Emerald Isle''.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A brilliant green, transparent variety of [[beryl]], coloured by [[chromium]] and valued as a gemstone.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Any of various other green gemstones.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A strong, bright yellowish green; [[emerald green]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Any of several small, bright green [[hummingbird|alt=hummingbirds]].^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of a rich, bright green colour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[emerald cut]]

+ * [[emerald green]]

+ * [[Emerald Isle]]

+ * [[Brazilian emerald]]

+ * [[Uralian emerald]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[smaragd]]

+ * [[smaragdine]]

+ * [[beryl]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}