Aquamarines

/ˌæk.wə.məˈriːnz/ noun

Definition

Plural of aquamarine; beautiful blue or blue-green gemstones (a type of beryl mineral) or items made from them, named for their water-like color.

Etymology

From Latin 'aqua marina' (sea water), since the gemstone's pale blue-green color resembles seawater. Medieval and ancient peoples called this stone 'aquamarine' because of its oceanic hue and believed it had sea-related powers.

Kelly Says

Ancient sailors believed aquamarines protected them at sea and calmed storms—while that's not scientifically true, the gemstone's serene color actually does have a measurably calming effect on human psychology, showing how folklore sometimes glimpses real truth.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.