162 september 2019
Reader’s Digest
All That Glitters
The names of gemstones often reflect their
appearance—ruby comes from Latin’s rubeus
(meaning ‘red’), for example. Other inspiring
qualities: Diamond is from the Latin adamantem
(‘hardest metal’), and tanzanite was discovered in Tanzania. Meanwhile, amethyst
descended from the Greek amethystos (‘not drunk’), as the purple stone was
thought to prevent intoxication—if you drank out of an amethyst goblet.
- bauble (a) showy
trinket. Most of my
accessories are baubles
I found at yard sales. - gilt (c) covered in gold.
Neena slipped a gilt
barrette into her long
dark hair. - carat (a) unit of weight.
The famous Hope
Diamond weighs a
whopping 45 carats! - amulet (b) protective
charm. Clutching
the amulet that hung
around his neck,
Rakesh turned to
face the evil sorcerer. - iridescent (b)
having rainbow colours.
Rani’s iridescent opal
bracelet sparkled in
the sunshine.
Vocabulary Ratings
9 & below: hidden gem
10–12: heart of gold
13–15: crown jewel
alloy (a) mixture
of metals. Rose gold is
actually an alloy of gold,
silver and copper.
solitaire (b) gem set
alone. “Will you marry
me?” asked the duke,
slipping the diamond
solitaire ring on to his
beloved’s finger.
girandole (a) pendant
earring. In the 19th
century, a fashionable
lady might wear ornate
girandoles to dinner.
citrine (b) yellow quartz.
Citrine’s distinctive
colour comes from
traces of iron.
adorn (b) make
beautiful. The fortune-
teller’s wrists were
adorned with countless
bangles, which clinked
softly as she walked.
baguette (^) (c)
rectangular stone. “May
I suggest a baguette,
rather than an oval cut?”
the salesperson said.
filigree (c) delicate
metalwork. The queen’s
tiara features Victorian
filigree.
palladium (c)
silver-white metal.
Palladium looks similar
to platinum, but it’s lighter
and less expensive.
facet (a) surface on
a cut gem. When a gem
is expertly cut, facets
create beautiful patterns
on the stone.
rondelle (c) jewelled
ring. Maya’s most prized
possession is a sapphire
rondelle that belonged to
her great-grandmother.
Word Power
ANSWERS
sebastian^ janicki/shutterstock