sapphirine

American  

[saf-er-in, -uh-reen, -uh-rahyn] / ˈsæf ər ɪn, -əˌrin, -əˌraɪn /

adjective

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

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noun

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

2. a blue variety of spinel.

sapphirine British  

/ 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

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adjective

1. relating to or resembling sapphire

Etymology

Origin of sapphirine

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sapphirine

Her sapphirine eyes searched the Berkshire hills again, "Something bigger and nobler—something which meant the entire sacrifice of self."

From The House of Mystery An Episode in the Career of Rosalie Le Grange, Clairvoyant by Will Irwin

A quick arrested expression in her two sapphirine eyes, accompanied by a little, a very little, blush which loitered long, was all the outward disturbance that the sight of her lover caused.

From A Laodicean : a Story of To-day by Thomas Hardy

Then, noticing the expression of the dog who beholds his master with which her sapphirine eyes regarded him, he dropped his hand on hers.

From The House of Mystery An Episode in the Career of Rosalie Le Grange, Clairvoyant by Will Irwin

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

From The House of Mystery An Episode in the Career of Rosalie Le Grange, Clairvoyant by Will Irwin

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

From The House of Mystery An Episode in the Career of Rosalie Le Grange, Clairvoyant by Will Irwin

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