lapidary

American  

[lap-i-der-ee] / ˈlæp ɪˌdɛr i /

noun

lapidaries plural

1. Also lapidist a worker who cuts, polishes, and engraves precious stones.

2. Also lapidarist an expert in precious stones and the art or techniques used in cutting and engraving them.

3. the art of cutting, polishing, and engraving precious stones.

4. an old book on the lore of gems.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the cutting or engraving of precious stones.

2. characterized by an exactitude and extreme refinement that suggests gem cutting.

   a lapidary style; lapidary verse.

3. of, relating to, or suggestive of inscriptions on stone monuments.

lapidary British  

/ ˈlæpɪdərɪ /

noun

1. a person whose business is to cut, polish, set, or deal in gemstones

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adjective

1. of or relating to gemstones or the work of a lapidary

2. Also: lapidarian.  engraved, cut, or inscribed in a stone or gemstone

3. of sufficiently high quality to be engraved on a stone

   a lapidary inscription

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lapidarian
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• lapidaries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lapidary

1325–75; Middle English lapidarie (noun) < Latin lapidārius of stone (adj.), stone-cutter (noun), equivalent to lapid- (stem of lapis ) stone + -ārius -ary

Explanation

The word lapidary relates to precious stones, especially the things people do with them such as cut, polish, and set them in a fancy bracelet. If you know someone who carves gems, engraves marble, or does other work with precious stones, then you know someone who does lapidary work. A lot of lapidary work involves making jewelry, but doing inscriptions in monuments is also lapidary. Someone who collects precious or rare stones has a lapidary hobby. You can also call a person who works with such stones a lapidary. Lapidary comes from the Latin word, lapis, for stone.