sapphire

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“
Like many gemstones, the sapphire is assigned as a birthstone.

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Definitions (28)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (5)

  1. noun A clear hard variety of corundum used as a gemstone that is usually blue but may be any color except red.
  2. noun A corundum gem.
  3. noun The blue color of a gem sapphire.
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Examples

  • Like many gemstones, the sapphire is assigned as a birthstone. —  MyLinkVault Newest Links
  • They may scarcely realize that the ruby and the sapphire are the same mineral, and that this mineral also occurs, and is used in jewelry, absolutely colorless, when it is known as lux sapphire, green as the so-called Oriental emerald, and yellow as the so-called Oriental topaz; that topaz itself may be yellow, brown, blue, or colorless; that zircons range from colorless through almost all conceivable shades of brown and green, and that even diamond has been found green, red and blue When we come to consider the properties by which precious stones are recognized, I shall say little or nothing about color, for it is of little value as a criterion. —  Scientific American Supplement, No. 1082, September 26, 1896
  • With a continuation of his elaborate courtesy and his purposely stilted phrasing, the Sepoy said: "If the sapphire was argument, this was certainly conviction. —  The Flaw in the Sapphire
  • For instance, a sapphire is the result of the complete and perfect fulfillment of the laws of aggregation in the earth of alumina, and it is therefore beautiful; more beautiful than clay, or any other of the conditions of that earth. —  Lectures on Architecture and Painting Delivered at Edinburgh in November 1853
  • They may scarcely realize that the ruby and the sapphire are the same mineral, and that this mineral also occurs, and is used in jewelry, absolutely colorless, when it is known as lux sapphire, green as the so-called —  Scientific American Supplement, No. 1082, September 26, 1896
 

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English saphir, from Old French safir, from Latin sapphīrus, from Greek sappheiros, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew sappîr, a precious stone.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Early modern English also saphir; from Middle English saphir, saphyre, safir, safyre, saffer, from Old French saphir, saphyr, safir, French saphir = Provencal saphir, safier, safir = Spanish zafir, záfiro = Portuguese saphira, safira = Italian zaffiro, sapphire, from Latin sapphirus (also sappir, Late Latin also sapphir, from Hebrew), Middle Latin also saffirus, safirus, from Greek σάπφειρος, sapphire, or more prob. lapis lazuli, from Hebrew sappīr = Arabic çafīr (later Persian saffīr), sapphire.
 

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/ˈsæfaɪr/
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