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Sapphire - 8 dictionary results
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sap⋅phire
[saf-ahyuh
r] 
–noun
| 1. | any gem variety of corundum other than the ruby, esp. one of the blue varieties. |
| 2. | a gem of this kind. |
| 3. | the color of this gem, a deep blue. |
–adjective
| 4. | resembling sapphire; deep blue: a sapphire sky. |
Origin:
1225–75; < L sapphīrus < Gk sáppheiros, prob. < Sem (cf. Heb sappīr; ulterior orig. obscure); r. ME safir < OF < L, as above
1225–75; < L sapphīrus < Gk sáppheiros, prob. < Sem (cf. Heb sappīr; ulterior orig. obscure); r. ME safir < OF < L, as above
Sap⋅phi⋅ra
[suh-fahy-ruh] –noun
| 1. | a woman who, with her husband, Ananias, was struck dead for lying. Acts 5. |
| 2. | Also, Sap⋅phire [saf-ahyuhr] . a female given name. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To Sapphire
| sap·phire (sāf'īr') n.
[Middle English saphir, from Old French safir, from Latin sapphīrus, from Greek sappheiros, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew sappîr, a precious stone.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Sapphire
Sap"phire\ (? or ?; 277), n. [OE. saphir, F. saphir, L. sapphirus, Gr. ?, of Oriental origin; cf. Heb. sapp[=i]r.]1. (Min.) Native alumina or aluminium sesquioxide, Al2O3; corundum; esp., the blue transparent variety of corundum, highly prized as a gem. Of rubies, sapphires, and of pearl['e]s white. --Chaucer. Note: Sapphire occurs in hexagonal crystals and also in granular and massive forms. The name sapphire is usually restricted to the blue crystals, while the bright red crystals are called Oriental rubies (see under Ruby), the amethystine variety Oriental amethyst (see under Amethyst), and the dull massive varieties corundum (a name which is also used as a general term to include all varieties). See Corundum. 2. The color of the gem; bright blue. 3. (Zo["o]l.) Any humming bird of the genus Hylocharis, native of South America. The throat and breast are usually bright blue. Star sapphire, or Asteriated sapphire (Min.), a kind of sapphire which exhibits asterism.Sapphire
Sap"phire\, a. Of or resembling sapphire; sapphirine; blue. "The sapphire blaze." --Gray.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Sapphire
Spanish:
zafiro,
German:
der Saphir, Saphir…,
Japanese:
サファイア
sapphire
1272, from O.Fr. saphir (12c.), from L. sapphirus (cf. Sp. zafir, It. zaffiro), from Gk. sappheiros "blue stone" (the gem meant apparently was not the one that now has the name, but perhaps rather "lapis lazuli," the modern sapphire perhaps signified by Gk. hyakinthos), from a Semitic source (cf. Heb. sappir "sapphire"), but probably not ult. from Semitic; some linguists propose an origin in Skt. sanipriya, a dark precious stone (perhaps sapphire or emerald), lit. "sacred to Saturn," from Sani "Saturn" + priyah "precious." In Renaissance lapidaries, it was said to cure anger and stupidity.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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| sapphire (sāf'īr') Pronunciation Key
A clear, fairly pure form of the mineral corundum that is usually blue but may be any color except red. It often contains small amounts of oxides of cobalt, chromium, and titanium and is valued as a gem. Compare ruby. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Sapphire
Associated with diamonds (Ex. 28:18) and emeralds (Ezek. 28:13); one of the stones in the high priest's breastplate. It is a precious stone of a sky-blue colour, probably the lapis lazuli, brought from Babylon. The throne of God is described as of the colour of a sapphire (Ex. 24:10; comp. Ezek. 1:26).
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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