emerald

emerald

emerald the green variety of beryl , of which aquamarine is the blue variety. Chemically, it is a beryllium-aluminum silicate whose color is due to small quantities of chromium compounds. The emerald was highly esteemed in antiquity; the stones were used for ornaments in early Egypt where some of the first emeralds were mined. The finest emeralds are found in South America in Colombia, where they have been mined for over 400 years. The gem was a favorite in pre-Columbian Mexico and Peru, where it was cut in intricate designs. The treasure taken back to Spain by early explorers included emeralds. Good emeralds are the most highly valued of gem stones. India, Zimbabwe, and Australia are minor sources of the natural stones. Synthetic emeralds are also manufactured in Germany, France, and the United States. The Oriental emerald, a different gem, is the transparent green variety of corundum .

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"emerald." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"emerald." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-emerald.html

"emerald." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-emerald.html

Learn more about citation styles

Emerald

Emerald

One of the most highly esteemed precious stones, known to ancient Egyptians, Hindus, Greeks, and Romans. In India emeralds were used to adorn images in temples, and Moslems used emeralds as amulets, inscribed with verses from the Koran. Emeralds were believed to change color when surrounded by deception and treachery. They were also believed to be preservatives against decay, dysentery, and the bites of venomous creatures and to promote easy childbirth. In ancient Rome the emperor Nero was said to have had an unusually large emerald that he used for viewing gladiatorial contests. Presumably he was shortsighted and used it as a lens.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Emerald." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Emerald." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403801560.html

"Emerald." Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology. 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403801560.html

Learn more about citation styles

emerald

emerald this bright green precious stone is a type of brilliant green. In heraldry, emerald is the name given to the tincture vert in the fanciful blazon of arms of peers. Recorded from Middle English, the word comes via Old French and Latin from Greek (s)maragdos from Hebrew bāreqeṯ ‘emerald’, from bāraq ‘flash, sparkle’.
Emerald Isle a name for Ireland, perhaps from the prevailing green of its countryside; first recorded in the nationalist poem Erin (1795) by William Drennan (1754–1820).

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "emerald." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "emerald." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-emerald.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "emerald." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-emerald.html

Learn more about citation styles

emerald

em·er·ald / ˈem(ə)rəld/ • n. 1. a bright green precious stone consisting of a chromium-rich variety of beryl. 2. a bright green color like that of an emerald. • adj. bright green in color.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"emerald." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"emerald." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-emerald.html

"emerald." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-emerald.html

Learn more about citation styles

emerald

emerald XIII. ME. emeraude — OF. e(s)meraude (mod. émeraude) = It. smeraldo, Sp. esmeralda :- Rom. *smaralda, -o, alteration of L. smaragdus — Gr. smáragdos. The sp. with -ld is prob. due to It. or Sp. influence in XVI.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

T. F. HOAD. "emerald." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "emerald." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-emerald.html

T. F. HOAD. "emerald." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-emerald.html

Learn more about citation styles

emerald

emerald The third of the precious stones in the high-priest's breastpiece (Exod. 28: 17), probably of a violet colour, and the fourth in the foundations of the walls of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21: 19).

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

W. R. F. BROWNING. "emerald." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "emerald." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-emerald.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "emerald." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-emerald.html

Learn more about citation styles

emerald

emerald Variety of beryl, highly valued as a gemstone. The colour varies from light to dark green due to the presence of small amounts of chromium.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"emerald." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"emerald." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-emerald.html

"emerald." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-emerald.html

Learn more about citation styles

Emerald

Emerald ♀ Modern coinage from the name of the gemstone, representing a vernacular form of Esmeralda.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Emerald." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Emerald." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Emerald.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Emerald." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Emerald.html

Learn more about citation styles

emerald

emerald See BERYL.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "emerald." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "emerald." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-emerald.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "emerald." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-emerald.html

Learn more about citation styles

emerald

emerald •Roald • unlabelled (US unlabeled) •ribald • untroubled • unruffled •newfangled • unwrinkled •bespectacled •untrammelled (US untrammeled) •Arnold • Reginald •Donald, Macdonald, Ronald •unexampled • unprincipled •uncrumpled • Harold •Fitzgerald, Gerald, herald •emerald • embattled • unmetalled •untitled • disgruntled •untravelled (US untraveled) •unrivalled (US unrivaled) • Tynwald •Ostwald • Oswald • sozzled • world •dreamworld • underworld •afterworld • netherworld

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"emerald." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"emerald." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-emerald.html

"emerald." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-emerald.html

Learn more about citation styles

Facts and information from other sites

emerald images
emerald. (Image by TomR (Thomas Ruedas), CC)