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jacinth

 - 9 dictionary results

ja⋅cinth

  [jey-sinth, jas-inth]
Use jacinth in a Sentence
–noun
Mineralogy. hyacinth (def. 4).
Origin:
1200–50; < ML jacinthus, L hyacinthus hyacinth; r. ME jacinct < OF jacincte < ML jacinctus, var. of jacinthus

Ja⋅cinth

  [jey-sinth, jas-inth]
–noun
a female given name, form of Hyacinth.

hy⋅a⋅cinth

  [hahy-uh-sinth]
–noun
1. a bulbous plant, Hyacinthus orientalis, of the lily family, widely cultivated for its cylindrical cluster of fragrant flowers in a variety of colors.
2. any of various similar or related plants, as the grape hyacinth or the water hyacinth.
3. a plant fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus and variously identified as iris, gladiolus, larkspur, etc.
4. Mineralogy. a reddish-orange zircon.
5. a gem of the ancients, held to be the amethyst or sapphire.
Also called jacinth for defs. 3–5.

Origin:
1545–55; < L hyacinthus < Gk hyákinthos blue larkspur, also a gem of blue color; cf. jacinth
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To jacinth
hy·a·cinth   (hī'ə-sĭnth)   
n.  

    1. A bulbous Mediterranean plant (Hyacinthus orientalis) having narrow leaves and a terminal raceme of variously colored, usually fragrant flowers, with a funnel-shaped perianth. Also called jacinth.

    2. Any of several similar or related plants, such as the grape hyacinth.

    3. A reddish or cinnamon-colored variety of transparent zircon, used as a gemstone.

    4. A blue precious stone, perhaps the sapphire, known in antiquity.

  2. Greek Mythology A plant, perhaps the larkspur, gladiolus, or iris, that sprang from the blood of the slain Hyacinthus.

  3. A deep purplish blue to vivid violet.

    1. A reddish or cinnamon-colored variety of transparent zircon, used as a gemstone.

    2. A blue precious stone, perhaps the sapphire, known in antiquity.


[Latin hyacinthus, from Greek huakinthos, wild hyacinth.]
hy'a·cin'thine (-sĭn'thĭn, -thīn') adj.
ja·cinth   (jā'sĭnth, jās'ĭnth)   
n.  See hyacinth.

[Middle English jacinte, from Old French jacinte or from Medieval Latin jacintus, both from Latin hyacinthus; see hyacinth.]
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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Word Origin & History

jacinth 
c.1230, an ancient blue gem (probably sapphire), from O.Fr. iacinte, from L. hyacinthus (see hyacinth). In modern use, a reddish-orange gem.

hyacinth 
1553 in this form; earlier jacinth (1230), from Gk. hyakinthos, probably ult. from a non-I.E. Mediterranean language. Used in ancient Greece of a blue gem, perhaps sapphire, and of a purple or deep red flower, but exactly which one is unknown (gladiolus, iris, and larkspur have been suggested). Fabled to have sprouted from the blood of Hyakinthos, youth beloved by Apollo and accidentally slain by him. The flower is said to have the letters "AI" or "AIAI" on its petals. The modern use in ref. to a flowering plant genus is from 1578.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bible Dictionary

Jacinth

properly a flower of a reddish blue or deep purple (hyacinth), and hence a precious stone of that colour (Rev. 21:20). It has been supposed to designate the same stone as the ligure (Heb. leshem) mentioned in Ex. 28:19 as the first stone of the third row in the high priest's breast-plate. In Rev. 9:17 the word is simply descriptive of colour.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Encyclopedia

jacinth

a red, orange, or yellow variety of the gemstone zircon (q.v.).

Learn more about jacinth with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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