Agate

Agate
Agate Ag"ate, n. [F. agate, It. agata, L. achates, fr. Gr. ?.] 1. (Min.) A semipellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen. Its colors are delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds. [1913 Webster]

Note: The fortification agate, or Scotch pebble, the moss agate, the clouded agate, etc., are familiar varieties. [1913 Webster]

2. (Print.) A kind of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil; in England called ruby. [1913 Webster]

Note: This line is printed in the type called agate. [1913 Webster]

3. A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.; -- so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • agate — agate …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • agate — [ agat ] n. f. • XIIIe; acate XIIe; lat. achates, gr. akhatês 1 ♦ Minér. Variété de calcédoine, finement zonée, aux teintes nuancées et contrastées, utilisée comme pierre précieuse (camées, coupes, etc.). ♢ Objet d art en agate. Les agates… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • agate — AGATE. s. f. Pierre de la nature du caillou; elle est fort dure et prend parfaitement le poli; elle donne des étincelles lorsqu on la frappe avec de l acier, et elle varie pour les couleurs, les veines et les accidens qui s y trouvent. Les agates …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • agaté — agaté, tée (a ga té, tée) adj. Qui contient de l agate. Jaspe agaté. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Agate …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • agate — AGÁTE s.f.pl. Litere tipografice a căror floare corespunde unei litere de şase puncte. [sg. agată. / cf. fr. agate]. Trimis de LauraGellner, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DN  AGÁTE s. f. pl. litere tipografice cu floarea de şase puncte. (< fr. agate) …   Dicționar Român

  • agate — [ag′it] n. [ME agaten < OFr agate < ML < L achates < Gr achatēs < ?] 1. a hard semiprecious stone, a variety of chalcedony, with striped or clouded coloring 2. any of various tools having agate parts, as a burnishing instrument… …   English World dictionary

  • Agate — A*gate , adv. [Pref. a on + gate way.] On the way; agoing; as, to be agate; to set the bells agate. [Obs.] Cotgrave. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • agate — (n.) 1560s, from M.Fr. agathe (16c.), from L. achates, from Gk. akhates, the name of a river in Sicily where the stones were found (Pliny). But the river could as easily be named for the stone. The earlier English form of the word, achate (early… …   Etymology dictionary

  • agate — AGATE. s. f. Sorte de pierre precieuse qui n est point transparente. Agate d Orient. agate de Boheme …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • agate —    , agate line    a traditional unit of area used in printing and advertising. The agate line is equal to 1/14 inch (1.814 millimeters) multiplied by the width of the printed line. Its name comes from the traditional type size called agate,… …   Dictionary of units of measurement

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