Beryls

/ˈbɛrɪlz/ noun

Definition

Plural of beryl, a hard gemstone that comes in various colors including green (emerald) and blue (aquamarine).

Etymology

From Greek beryllos, possibly from a Semitic language; the word traveled to English through Latin and Old French, and has been used for thousands of years to describe this precious mineral.

Kelly Says

Emeralds and aquamarines are actually the same mineral (beryl) in different colors—the green comes from chromium while the blue comes from iron, yet people pay wildly different prices for them even though chemically they're basically the same thing.

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