sapphire

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a precious gemstone of corundum, typically a deep blue

   A single sapphire glinted in the antique ring she inherited.

Simplified etymology

Sapphire came through Old French safir and Latin sapphirus from Greek sappheiros, which probably denoted lapis lazuli. Its earlier history is obscure. Greek probably borrowed the word from a Semitic language such as Hebrew sappir, although its form does not appear Semitic. Another theory traces it ultimately to Sanskrit çanipriya, “sacred to Saturn,” formed from words meaning “Saturn” and “precious” and used for a dark gem, perhaps sapphire or emerald.

From Old French safir, from Latin sapphirus, from Ancient Greek sáppheiros ('blue stone, lapis lazuli'), probably ultimately from a Semitic source (compare Hebrew sappīr).

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