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sap·phire

(săfīr′)

1. A clear hard variety of corundum used as a gemstone that is usually blue but may be any color except red.

2. A corundum gem.

3. The blue color of a gem sapphire.

adj.

1. Made of or resembling a gem sapphire.

2. Having the color of a blue sapphire.

3. Of or relating to a 65th anniversary.

[Middle English saphir, from Old French safir, from Latin sapphīrus, from Greek sappheiros, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew sappîr, a precious stone.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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