Middle English Dictionary Entry
amatist(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | amatist(e n. Also ametiste, amites, ametas(t, amatite, amacite, emastice, & (scribal blunder) amafissed. |
| Etymology | ML amatistus (CL amethystus, from Gr.) & OF amatiste, ametiste, amatite; partly confused with ematites. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Amethyst; ~ colour, ~ ston.
Associated quotations
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)171 : Hwat spekstu of eny stone..Of amatiste, of calcydone?
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)93 : Stonis preciuse..Ametist and crisolite.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.21.20 : Iaspis..ametistus.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)197a/a : Amatistus is a stoon of ynde..Amatistus is purpre rede in colour..as it were a blasyng rose..Þe oþer kynde..is moche liche to blewe..þe purpre reed is most noble..for þe vertu þer of helpeþ aȝeins dronkenesse..and is neisshe, so þat men may graue & wryte þer Inne.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1470 : Alle þe fruyt in þo formes of flaumbeande gemmes..amaraunz and amaffised stones.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1016 : Þe amatyst purpre wyth ynde blente.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.28.20 : Achates and amatyst [WB(2): ametiste].
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)144/4 : Grete tables..of cristall or of Amatystez [F dematistes].
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)2149 : Charbokel shineþ not so clere, The saphir ne þe amatite [rime: cresolyte].
- a1450 Dc.291 Lapid.(Dc 291)26 : Amatist is of purpure colour & draweth to colour of blode newe shedde..hit is comfortable in all sorowes & holdeth man in gode beleue & stronge.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)127 : Þe semys with saphirs sett were..With emeraudes and amatistes appon iche syde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3341 : An athil Amatast.
- (1467) Paston (Gairdner)4.263 : A nother ryng with an amytes.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)2655 : A cupe sett wyth precyous stonys..The emeraud and the ametas.
- a1500 BodAdd.A.106 Lapid.(BodAdd A.106)46 : Ye clothyng of ye Amatist colour.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)69 : Amatitus is a ston like to purpull red.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)2109 : What stonis they wor ye schall here..Emastyce [Roy: amatyste] and charbokull all soo.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)1817 : As the Amatiste followeth the rubye in dignitee, in las cleernes and in more obscuritee.