Where does “amethist” come from?
amethist (Malay) comes from Middle Dutch ametiste, from Old French ametiste, from Latin amethystus, from Ancient Greek ἀμέθυστος, from Ancient Greek μεθυστής, from Ancient Greek μεθύω, from Ancient Greek μέθυ, from Proto-Hellenic métʰu — honey; honey wine, mead.
Ancestry of “amethist”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Dutch | ametiste | — |
| 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 |