sap|phire

sap|phire «SAF yr», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a) a bright-blue precious stone that is hard and clear like a diamond. It is a variety of corundum. b) Figurative: »

Orselli considered the stars, each shining with a separate glory: golden Dubhe, blue Denebola, Vega the pale sapphire (Henry Morton Robinson).

2. the color of the sapphire; bright blue.

3. a gem-quality corundum of any other color except red (commonly prefixed by the color): »

a pink sapphire.

–adj.

1. bright-blue: »

a sapphire gown, a sapphire sky.

2. made or consisting of a sapphire or sapphires: »

a sapphire brooch.

╂[< Old French safir, learned borrowing from Latin saphīrus < Greek sáppheiros < Semitic (compare Hebrew sappīr) < Sanskrit sani-priya sapphire; dear to the planet Saturn]