What does smaragd mean?
“Smaragd” is an archaic English spelling of “emerald,” the green gem-quality variety of the mineral beryl. In medieval and early modern writing, it could denote the gemstone itself, often as one item in a list of precious stones alongside rubies and sapphires. Today it has no normal everyday use and survives chiefly in older texts, quotations, and discussions of historical vocabulary. Although its form may suggest an unfamiliar separate mineral, it is simply a spelling variant of “emerald.” The word ultimately comes through Latin from Greek smaragdos, an ancient term associated with the green gemstone. Its historical form offers a glimpse of the continuity of English vocabulary: what once looked like a specialized term has simply been replaced by the modern standard spelling.
nounAn archaic spelling of “emerald,” referring to the green gem-quality variety of beryl.
- An archaic term for the emerald gemstone.
"The merchant's signet was set with a smaragd."
"The crown was ornamented with sapphires, rubies, and a fine smaragd."
"In her translation of the medieval romance, she used “smaragd” for the jewel worn by the queen."
This archaic plural would occur only in older or deliberately archaic writing.
"The tale described a casket filled with smaragds and other jewels."
A “smaragd” was once an emerald: a compact piece of literary history preserved in an old spelling.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does smaragd come from?
The word entered Middle English in the medieval period through Old French from Latin smaragdus. Latin smaragdus was borrowed from Greek smaragdos, an ancient name associated with the green gemstone. The older English spelling later gave way to “emerald,” while related forms such as “smaragdine” retained the same root.
How smaragd is actually used
This is an obsolete spelling retained mainly in older literature and historical texts. Modern English uses “emerald”; the two forms do not ordinarily denote different gemstones.
Easily confused with smaragd
“Smaragd” is an obsolete alternative spelling of “emerald,” not a distinct gemstone.