AMETHYST

AM'ETHYST, noun [Latin amethystus; Gr. which the Greeks supposed to be formed from a neg. and to inebriate, from some supposed quality in the stone of resisting intoxication. Plin. 37.9, mentions an opinion that it takes its name from its color approaching that of wine, but not reaching it.]A sub-species of quartz, of a violet blue color, of different degrees of intensity. It generally occurs crystallized in hexahedral prisms or pyramids; also in rolled fragments, composed of imperfect prismatic crystals. Its fracture is conchoidal or splintery. It is wrought into various articles of jewelry.AM'ETHYST, in heraldry, signifies a purple color. It is the same, in a nobelman's escutcheon, as purpure, in a gentleman's and mercury, in that of a prince.

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A precious stone of a violet blue color, verging towards a bluish or reddish white. It is seldom uniform in color, and is generally cloudy and spotted with zigzag stripes. The most beautiful specimens come from Ceylon, the East Indies, Siberia, and Saxony. It is very highly prized, Ex 28:19; Re 21:20.

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Amethyst. 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.

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AMETHYST. → A precious stone Ex 28:19; 39:12; Re 21:20

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(Heb. achlamah) a subspecies of quartz of a bluish-violet color. Mention is made of this precious stone, which formed the third in the third row of the high priestly breastplate, in (Exodus 28:19; 39:12) It occurs also in (Revelation 21:20)

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amethyst. Amethyst, n. a precious stone of violet blue, white, gray or green

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Am″e‐thyst (�), [[F. ametiste, amatiste, F. améthyste, L. amethystus, fr. Gr. � without drunkenness; as a noun, a remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this power; ἀ priv. + � to be drunken, � strong drink, wine. See Mead.]] 1. 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. 2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms.