amethyst
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amethyst¹
- /ˈæm.ə.θɪst/
- /ɛm-/ US, also
Where it comes from
From Middle English ametist, from Old French ametiste (French améthyste), from Ancient Greek ἀμέθυστος (améthustos, “not drunk”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + μεθύω (methúō, “to be drunk”), from μέθυ (méthu, “wine”).
The name was based on the ancient belief that amethyst gemstones could prevent intoxication. People in ancient Greece and Rome would wear amethyst or drink from cups made of amethyst to ward off the effects of alcohol.
noun amethysts
- A transparent purple to violet variety of quartz with traces of manganese, used as a gemstone. The burning evening sun lighted with mellow gold the coats of the fierce little tiger-kittens — orange silk with stripes of black velvet — the broken amethysts and ruined emeralds of the poor bird's train cruelly scattered over the trampled grass
- A purple colour.
- The tincture purpure, when blazoning by precious stones. The Field is Topaz, a Lion rampant Amethyst [...]
adjective more amethyst · most amethyst
- Having a colour similar to that of the gemstone
Amethyst²
Where it comes from
From the gemstone amethyst.
proper noun
- A female given name. The Australian rapper Iggy Azalea was born Amethyst Amelia Kelly.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: chromatic, colored, amethyst gold, ametrine, purple quartz, amazonite, aurorite, aquamarine, alurgite, soft jade, azurite, rose quartz, purpurite, smoky quartz, gemstone, augite
Translations
Every language
noun colour
| Español | amatista |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 紫色 murasakiiro |
| 中文 | 紫色 zǐsè |
| Kiswahili | rangi ya amethisto |
| Русский | амети́стовый цвет ametístovyj cvet, фиоле́товый цвет fiolétovyj cvet |
noun gem
| Español | amatista |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 자수정 jasujeong |
| 日本語 | 紫水晶 murasakizuishō, アメシスト ameshisuto |
| 中文 | 紫水晶 zǐshuǐjīng |
| हिन्दी | अमेथिस्ट amethisṭ, एमिथिस्ट emithisṭ |
| Kiswahili | ametisti |
| Português | ametista |
| Français | améthyste |
| Deutsch | Amethyst |
| Italiano | ametista |
| Ελληνικά | αμέθυστος améthystos |
| Română | ametist |
| Русский | амети́ст ametíst |
| العربية | جَمَشْت jamašt |
| עברית | אַחְלָמָה 'akhlamá |
adj colour
| 中文 | 紫色的 zǐsè de |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | amethysten |
| Română | purpuriu |
| Русский | аметистовый ametistovyj |
Talk about this word "amethyst." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/amethyst. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. amethyst. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/amethyst "amethyst." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/amethyst.Cite this
@misc{amethyst_2026,
title = {amethyst},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/amethyst},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
