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lapidary - 5 dictionary results
lap⋅i⋅dar⋅y
[lap-i-der-ee] 
noun, plural -dar⋅ies, adjective –noun
| 1. | Also, lap⋅i⋅dist [lap-i-dist] . a worker who cuts, polishes, and engraves precious stones. |
| 2. | Also, la⋅pid⋅ar⋅ist [luh-pid-er-ist] . an expert in precious stones and the art or techniques used in cutting and engraving them. |
| 3. | the art of cutting, polishing, and engraving precious stones. |
| 4. | an old book on the lore of gems. |
–adjective Also, lap⋅i⋅dar⋅i⋅an [lap-i-dair-ee-uh
n] .
[lap-i-dair-ee-uhn] . | 5. | of or pertaining to the cutting or engraving of precious stones. |
| 6. | characterized by an exactitude and extreme refinement that suggests gem cutting: a lapidary style; lapidary verse. |
| 7. | of, pertaining to, or suggestive of inscriptions on stone monuments. |
Origin:
1325–75; ME lapidarie (n.) < L lapidārius of stone (adj.), stone-cutter (n.), equiv. to lapid- (s. of lapis) stone + -ārius -ary
1325–75; ME lapidarie (n.) < L lapidārius of stone (adj.), stone-cutter (n.), equiv. to lapid- (s. of lapis) stone + -ārius -ary
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 lapidary
| lap·i·dar·y (lāp'ĭ-děr'ē) n. pl. lap·i·dar·ies
[Middle English lapidarie, from Old French lapidaire, from Latin lapidārius, from lapis, lapid-, 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.
Cite This Source
Lapidary
Lap"i*da*ry\, n.; pl. Lapidaries. [L. lapidarius, fr. lapidarius pertaining to stone: cf. F. lapidaire.]1. An artificer who cuts, polishes, and engraves precious stones; hence, a dealer in precious stones. 2. A virtuoso skilled in gems or precious stones; a connoisseur of lapidary work. Lapidary's lathe, mill, or wheel, a machine consisting essentially of a revolving lap on a vertical spindle, used by a lapidary for grinding and polishing.Lapidary
Lap"i*da*ry\, a. [L. lapidarius pertaining to stone: cf. F. lapidaire.]1. Of or pertaining to the art of cutting stones, or engraving on stones, either gems or monuments; as, lapidary ornamentation. 2. Of or pertaining to monumental inscriptions; as, lapidary adulation. Lapidary style, that style which is proper for monumental and other inscriptions; terse; sententious.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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lapidary (n.)
"one skilled in working with precious stones," 1382, from O.Fr. lapidaire, from L. lapidarius "stonecutter," originally an adj. "of or working with stone," from lapis (gen. lapidis) "stone."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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