Where does “amethyst” come from?
Amethyst comes from Middle English ametist, from Old French ametiste, from Ancient Greek ἀμέθυστος, a compound of the negation prefix ἀ- and a root from Proto-Indo-European ne and sem-.
amethyst (English): A transparent purple variety of quartz, used as a...
Definitions
- A transparent purple variety of quartz, used as a...
Ancestry of “amethyst”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | ametist | — |
| 2 | Old French | ametiste | amethyst |
| 3 | Latin | amethystus | amethyst |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἀμέθυστος | not drunken, without drunkenness, sober; not... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μεθυστής | drunken |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μεθύω | to get drunk; I am drunk |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | μέθυ | wine |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | métʰu | intoxicating drink; mead |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | médʰu | honey; honey wine, mead |