amethyst

amethyst
—amethystine /am'euh this"tin, -tuyn/, adj. —amethystlike, adj.
/am"euh thist/, n.
1. a purple or violet quartz, used as a gem.
2. a purplish tint.
adj.
3. having the color of amethyst.
4. containing or set with an amethyst or amethysts: an amethyst brooch.
[1250-1300; < L amethystus < Gk améthystos not intoxicating, not intoxicated (so called from a belief that it prevented drunkenness), equiv. to a- A-6 + methys- (var. s. of methýein to intoxicate; see METHYLENE) + -tos verbal adj. suffix; r. ME ametist < AF ametiste < L]

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Transparent, coarse-grained variety of quartz that is valued as a semiprecious gem for its violet colour.

It contains a little more iron oxide (Fe2O3) than any other variety of quartz, and its colour probably arises from this iron content. Heating removes the colour or changes it to the yellow of citrine; most commercial citrine is made in this manner. Notable deposits are found in Brazil, Uruguay, Ontario, and North Carolina. The birthstone for February, amethyst is usually faceted with step cuts or emerald cuts but also has been used since ancient times for carved intaglios.

White-tipped amethyst from Guerrero, Mexico

Lee Boltin

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 a transparent, coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz (q.v.) that is valued as a semiprecious gem for its violet colour. It contains more iron oxide (Fe2O3) than any other variety of quartz, and experts believe that its colour arises from its iron content. Other theories attribute the colour to contained manganese or hydrocarbons. Heating removes the colour from amethyst or changes it to the yellow of citrine; (citrine) most commercial citrine is made in this manner. Notable occurrences include Brazil, Uruguay, Ontario, and North Carolina.

      The name, derived from the Greek amethystos, “not intoxicated,” expresses the ancient folk belief that the stone protects its owner against drunkenness. In ancient writings the Latin name amethystus was used for amethyst, purple corundum, and purple garnet. Amethyst, the birthstone for February, is usually facetted with step cuts or emerald cuts, but has been used for carved intaglios since ancient times. Amethyst is mentioned in the Bible (Ex. 28:19; 39:12) as one of the 12 stones adorning the breastplate (ḥoshen) of the high priests of Yahweh. Its physical properties are those of quartz.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • 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}.] [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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