sapphirine

[ saf-er-in, -uh-reen, -uh-rahyn ]

adjective

1. consisting of sapphire; like sapphire, especially in color.

noun

1. a pale-blue or greenish, usually granular mineral, a silicate of magnesium and aluminum.
2. a blue variety of spinel.

sapphirine

/ ˈsæfəˌriːn; -rɪn /

noun

1. a rare blue or bluish-green mineral that consists of magnesium aluminium silicate in monoclinic crystalline form and occurs as small grains in some metamorphic rocks
2. a blue variety of spinel

adjective

1. relating to or resembling sapphire

Word History and Origins

Origin of sapphirine¹

1375–1425; late Middle English saphyryn (< Old French ) ≪ Greek sappheírinos like lapis lazuli ( sapphire, -ine ¹ ); sapphirine ( def 2 ) < German Saphirin ≪ Greek, as above

Example Sentences

Whatever there was in the bit of sapphirine blue, it had life.

From Project Gutenberg

In spiders they are often of a sapphirine colour, and clear as crystal.

From Project Gutenberg

He would have taken her hand on this, but the grave, direct gaze of her sapphirine eyes restrained him.

From Project Gutenberg

Her sapphirine eyes were shining, her hands lay inert in her lap, her lips quivered softly.

From Project Gutenberg

Ghosts—ghosts—the sapphirine air Teems with them even to the gleaming ends Of the wild day-spring!

From Project Gutenberg