Middle English Dictionary Entry
asterīte(s n.
Entry Info
| Forms | asterīte(s n. Also asterides, astrices. |
| Etymology | L asterītēs, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A gem or precious stone: ?cat's-eye.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.826 : Ther be..Set in the front of his [the Sun's] corone Thre Stones..Licuchis..Astrices, and Ceramius.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)197a/b : Asterites is a precious stoon & white & conteigneþ light þer Inne y closed, as it were a sterre goynge wiþinne, and makeþ þe sonne bemes white.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)963 : The Asteryte Hath in hymself a sterre.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)71 : Ðis ston asterides is like a stare.