Amethyst
/ˈæm.ə.θɪst/noun
A purple or violet variety of quartz valued as a gemstone.
Did you know?Its name comes from Greek belief that the stone could prevent intoxication, and it was often treated as a protective, almost ritual object rather than just jewelry.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁n̥-t-
“a negative prefix meaning “not””
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀ- (a-) + μέθυστος (méthystos)
““not drunk” or “not intoxicated””
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀμέθυστος (améthystos)
“a stone believed to prevent drunkenness”
Late Latin
Latin
amethystus
“amethyst, the purple gemstone”
Old French
Old French
ametiste
“amethyst”
Middle English
English
amethist
“the purple gemstone”
Modern English
English
amethyst
“a purple or violet variety of quartz”