amethyst: [13] The amethyst gets its name from a supposition in the ancient world that it was capable of preventing drunkenness. The Greek word for ‘intoxicate’ was methúskein, which was based ultimately on the noun methú ‘wine’ (source of English methyl, and related to English mead). The addition of the negative prefix a- ‘not’ produced the adjective améthustos, used in the phrase líthos améthustos ‘anti-intoxicant stone’. This was borrowed as a noun into Latin (amethystus), and ultimately into Old French as ametiste. English took it over and in the 16th century re-introduced the -th- spelling of the Latin word. => mead, methyl
amethyst (n.)
violet quartz, late 13c., ametist, from Old French ametiste (Modern French améthyste) and directly from Medieval Latin amatistus, from Latin amethystus, from Greek amethystos "amethyst," literally "not intoxicating," from a- "not" + methyskein "make drunk," from methys "wine" (see mead (n.1)); based on the stone's ancient reputation for preventing drunkenness, which was perhaps sympathetic magic suggested by its wine-like color. People wore rings made of it before drinking. Spelling restored from Middle English ametist.
中文解释
amethyst 爱迷信石头。紫水晶曾被女巫用作占卜用,迷信啊!n.a.紫水晶,紫色的
实用例句
1. Amethyst was believed by the Greeks to protect a person from drunkenness.
希腊人认为紫水晶可以防止人喝醉。
来自柯林斯例句
2. She pinned a large amethyst brooch to her lapel.
她在翻领上别了一枚大大的紫水晶饰针.
来自《简明英汉词典》
3. On display are earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from jade, amber and amethyst.
展出的有用玉石 、 琥珀和紫水晶做的耳环 、 项链和手镯.
来自《简明英汉词典》
4. Most of it is a variety of amethyst: that heat turned brown.
大多数石英是一种 紫水晶,高温使其变为棕色.
来自互联网
5. Research results on growth of amethyst crystal by hydrothermal method are presented.