ˈaməthəst, -(ˌ)thi- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English amatist, ametist, from Old French & Latin; Old French amatiste, ametiste, from Latin amethystus, from Greek amethystos remedy against drunkenness, amethyst (so considered), from amethystos not drunk, not intoxicating, from a- a- (II) + -methystos drunk (from methyskein to make drunk, from methyein to be drunk, from methy wine) — more at mead
1.
a. : a clear purple or bluish violet variety of crystallized quartz much used as a jeweler's stone
b. : a deep purple variety of corundum — called also Oriental amethyst
2. or amethyst violet : a variable color averaging a moderate purple that is redder and duller than heliotrope (sense 4a) or manganese violet, bluer and duller than cobalt violet, and darker and slightly stronger than average lilac (sense 3a)