sapphire
pronunciation
How to pronounce sapphire in British English:
UK [ˈsæfaɪə(r)]
How to pronounce sapphire in American English:
US [ˈsæfˌaɪr]
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- Noun:
- a precious transparent stone of rich blue corundum valued as a gemstone
- a transparent piece of sapphire that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
- a light shade of blue
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- Adjective:
- having the color of a blue sapphire
Word Origin
- sapphire
- sapphire: [13] Sapphire can be traced back through Old French safir and Latin sapphīrus to Greek sáppheiros (which seems to have denoted ‘lapis lazuli’, another blue stone), but beyond that its origins are uncertain. It may have been acquired via a Semitic language (Hebrew has sappir), but it has been suggested that its ultimate source could be Sanskrit sanipriya, which stood for a type of dark-coloured precious stone. It meant literally ‘precious to the planet Saturn’, and was a compound of Sani ‘Saturn’ and priya ‘precious’.
- sapphire (n.)
- "precious stone next in hardness to a diamond," mid-13c., from Old French saphir (12c.) and directly from Latin sapphirus (source also of Spanish zafir, Italian zaffiro), from Greek sappheiros "blue stone" (the gem meant apparently was not the one that now has the name, but perhaps rather "lapis lazuli," the modern sapphire being perhaps signified by Greek hyakinthos), from a Semitic source (compare Hebrew sappir "sapphire"), but probably not ultimately from Semitic. Some linguists propose an origin in Sanskrit sanipriya, a dark precious stone (perhaps sapphire or emerald), literally "sacred to Saturn," from Sani "Saturn" + priyah "precious." In Renaissance lapidaries, it was said to cure anger and stupidity. As an adjective from early 15c. Related: Sapphiric; sapphirine.
Example
- 1. The sky is sapphire and the stars are diamonds .
- 2. He proposed on their third date , and presented heidi with a sapphire and diamond engagement ring .
- 3. One of my favorite competitions was the bombay sapphire designer glass competition .
- 4. If the mineral has a blue color it 's known as a sapphire .
- 5. So a sapphire stone can sometimes cost more than a diamond of similar size .