Amethyst

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈæm.ə.θɪst/

Definitions

1. a purple or violet variety of quartz valued as a gemstone and used in jewelry and ornamental objects
2. a semi-precious stone characterized by its distinctive purple hue, composed of quartz and prized for decorative and metaphysical purposes
3. a quartz mineral displaying shades of purple or violet, commonly fashioned into gems and decorative items for personal adornment

Etymology: The name of this purple gemstone rests on a belief that it could keep you sober. The Ancient Greek "améthustos" meant "not drunk," built from "a-," meaning "not," and "méthuō," meaning "to be drunk," which itself comes from "méthu," wine. Greeks and Romans wore amethyst as a charm against intoxication and even drank from cups carved of it, hoping to avoid the effects of wine. The name passed into Middle English as "ametist," arriving through Old French "ametiste," which is the form that became modern French "améthyste." The stone's reputation as a sobriety charm was so central that the Greek word for "not drunk" became the stone's permanent label, even though the belief behind it was never true.