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more about amethyst
amethyst |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Amethyst \Am"e*thyst\, [F. ametiste amatiste F. am['e]thyste, L. amethystus fr Gr ? without drunkenness; as a noun a remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this power; 'a priv. + ? to be drunken, ? strong drink, wine. See {Mead}.] 1. (Min.) A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler's stone. {Oriental amethyst}, the violet-blue variety of transparent crystallized corundum or sapphire. 2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: amethyst adj : of a moderate purple color n : a transparent purple variety of quartz; used as a gemstone From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: Amethyst one of the precious stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:19; 39:12), and in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:20). The ancients thought that this stone had the power of dispelling drunkenness in all who wore or touched it and hence its Greek name formed from _a_, "privative," and _methuo_, "to get drunk." Its Jewish name _ahlamah'_, was derived by the rabbins from the Hebrew word _halam_, "to dream," from its supposed power of causing the wearer to dream. It is a pale-blue crystallized quartz, varying to a dark purple blue. It is found in Persia and India, also in different parts of Europe.
more about amethyst
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