Etymology Dictionary

AMETHYST,  a precious stone.  (Gk.)   'As for the amethyst, as well the herb as the stone of that name, they that think that both the one and the other is (sic) so called because they withstand drunkenness, miscount themselves, and are deceived;' Holland, tr. of Plutarch's Morals, p. 560.   Boyle, Works, vol. i. p. 513, uses the adj. amethystine.—Lat. amethystus, used by Pliny, 37. 9.   [Note:  directly from the Latin, the F. form being ametiste in Cotgrave.   However, the form amatiste, from the Old French, is found in the 13th century; Old. Eng. Miscellany, ed. Morris, p. 98, l. 171.]—Gk. ἀμέθυστος, sb. a remedy against drunkenness; an amethyst, from its supposed virtue in that way.—Gk. ἀμέθυστος, adj. not drunken.—Gk. ἀ-, privative; and μεθύειν, to be drunken.—Gk. μέθυ, strong drink, wine; cognate with E. mead.   See Mead.   Der. amethyst-ine.