agate

[ ag-it ]

noun

1. a variegated chalcedony showing curved, colored bands or other markings.
2. a playing marble made of this substance, or of glass in imitation of it.
3. Printing. a 5½-point type of a size between pearl and nonpareil. Compare ruby ( def 6 ).

Agate

¹

/ ˈæɡeɪt /

noun

1. AgateJames (Evershed)18771947MBritishTHEATRE: theatre criticWRITING: diarist James ( Evershed ). 1877–1947, British theatre critic; drama critic for The Sunday Times (1923–47) and author of a nine-volume diary Ego (1935–49)

agate

²

/ ˈæɡɪt /

noun

1. an impure microcrystalline form of quartz consisting of a variegated, usually banded chalcedony, used as a gemstone and in making pestles and mortars, burnishers, and polishers. Formula: SiO 2
2. a playing marble of this quartz or resembling it
3. Also calledruby printing (formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 5 1 2 point

agate

³

/ əˈɡeɪt /

adverb

1. dialect.
   on the way

agate

/ ăg′ĭt /

1. A type of very fine-grained quartz found in various colors that are arranged in bands or in cloudy patterns. The bands form when water rich with silica enters empty spaces in rock, after which the silica comes out of solution and forms crystals, gradually filling the spaces from the outside inward. The different colors are the result of various impurities in the water.

Other Words From

• agate·like aga·toid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of agate¹

1150–1200; Middle English ac ( c ) ate, achate, agaten (compare Dutch agaat, Old Saxon agāt, Old High German agat ), apparently < Old French agathe or Italian agata (initial stress) ≪ Medieval Latin achātēs < Greek achā́tēs

Word History and Origins

Origin of agate¹

C16: via French from Latin achātēs, from Greek akhatēs

Origin of agate²

C16: a-² + gate³

Example Sentences

The historian Pliny the Elder describes owning agate cups as a sign of wealth and luxury.

From The Daily Beast

By contrast this cup is made of gold, onyx, precious stones, and the stone agate.

From The Daily Beast

Agate was widely used to carve high-value objects like signets and cylinder seals in the ancient Near East.

From The Daily Beast

While agate could likely be acquired much more cheaply, aristocratic Romans were serious about their agate.

From The Daily Beast

And, like Teddy, I was approached by Agate to do business with him.

From The Daily Beast

There are gold, silver, agate and crystal vases, silver tables and gold plate of every description.

From Project Gutenberg

We managed, however, to pick up some interesting Chinese snuff bottles of carved agate, some with pictures painted inside.

From Project Gutenberg

An axe poised upon a stake, or an agate on a red-hot axe, was supposed by its movement to indicate the offender.

From Project Gutenberg

At the far end was a raised dais with a mammoth statue of a kneeling woman, sculptured of the same effulgent, agate material.

From Project Gutenberg

Then there were horns of ivory and ebony; emeralds, purple and broidered work, fine linen, coral and agate.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• font