See Also: amethyst(medicine)
amethyst(dictionary)
amethyst(encyclopedia)
amethyst(dictionary)

amethyst (iou)



amethyst noun & adjective. ME.
[Old French ametiste, Latin amethystus from Greek amethustos use as noun (sc. lithos stone) of adjective, from a- A-10 + methuein be intoxicated: so called because it was supposed to prevent intoxication.]
A. noun.
A precious variety of quartz, of a clear purple or bluish-violet colour owing to the presence of iron. ME.
Heraldry. The tincture purpure in the fanciful blazon of arms of peers. obsolete exc. Hist. L16.
b. The colour of amethyst. E19.
b. attrib. or as adjective. Of or resembling amethyst; violet-purple. L15.