amethyst

noun

am·​e·​thyst ˈa-mə-thəst 

-(ˌ)thist

1

a

: a clear purple or bluish-violet variety of crystallized quartz that is often used as a jeweler's stone

b

: a deep purple variety of corundum

2

: a moderate purple

amethystine

ˌa-mə-ˈthi-stən 

adjective

Did you know?

Gems were once believed to have magical qualities. An amethyst, for example, was supposed to have the power to prevent or cure drunkenness in its wearer. For this reason the Greeks gave it the name amethystos, which comes from the prefix a-, meaning “not,” and methyein “to be drunk.”

Examples of amethyst in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On the starboard side lies a bar embellished with amethyst and agate, while the port side is home to a hookah room with fold-down down sea terraces. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2023

Displayed in beautiful cases all around the grove were diamonds, amethysts, emeralds, yellow and blue sapphires, pink tourmalines, hessonites, and pearls—so many stones, so many colors. —Chiara Barzini, Vogue, 19 July 2023

Thanks to Bulgari creative director Lucia Silvestri, our horn of plenty can also be an eternal banquet—of coral, amethyst, pink and green tourmaline, rubellite, citrine, and diamonds. —Leena Kim, Town & Country, 10 June 2023

These rich hues, derived from precious gemstones such as amethyst, emerald, ruby, and sapphire, provide dramatic and colorful alternatives to neutral color palettes. —Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2023

The solid gold frame is set with an assortment of dazzling gemstones, including 345 aquamarines, 37 white topaz, 27 tourmalines, 12 rubies, seven amethysts, six sapphires, two jargoons, one garnet, one spinel, and one carbuncle. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2023

Sprightly yuzu-pineapple kombucha and silky lattes complement the wine service, and dessert sees fat amethyst figs sunk into vanilla-bean rice pudding, crowned with the palest jade egg of wasabi ice cream and cilantro flowers. —Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 25 July 2023

Equipped with a self-winding chronograph flyback movement with a column wheel, the piece measures 42 mm in size—big enough to accommodate nearly 1,000 gemstones, including rubies, amethysts, blue topazes, tsavorites, and sapphires in shades of yellow, orange, blue and pink. —Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 23 July 2023

The hefty topper, made of solid gold and studded with 444 stones, including rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnets, topaz, and tourmalines, was commissioned for Charles II in 1661. —Leena Kim, Town & Country, 7 May 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English amatiste, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin amethystus, from Greek amethystos, literally, remedy against drunkenness, from a- + methyein to be drunk, from methy wine — more at mead

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

amethyst

noun

am·​e·​thyst ˈam-ə-thəst 

-(ˌ)thist

1

: a clear purple or bluish violet variety of crystallized quartz used as a gem

2

: a medium purple

Etymology

Middle English amatiste "amethyst," from early French amatiste and Latin amethystus (both with the same meaning), from Greek amethystos, literally "remedy against drunkenness," from a- "not" and methyein "to be drunk," from methy "wine"

Word Origin

Gems were once believed to have magical qualities. An amethyst, for example, was supposed to have the power to prevent or cure drunkenness in its wearer. For this reason the Greeks gave it the name amethystos, which comes from the prefix a-, meaning "not," and methyein "to be drunk."