opal etymology

Etymology and Meaning:

The word "opal" is derived from the Latin word "opalus," which, in turn, came from the Greek word "opallios." The Greek word is thought to have originated from the Sanskrit word "upala," meaning "precious stone."

The name "opal" is descriptive of the stone's iridescent appearance, which is caused by its unique internal structure. The play of colors resembles the shimmering colors of a peacock's tail.

Origin:

Opals are formed when silica-rich water seeps into cracks and cavities within rocks. As the water evaporates, the silica solidifies into opals, incorporating the colors and patterns from the surrounding materials.

Opals are found in a variety of locations around the world, including:

  • Australia (main source)
  • Ethiopia
  • Mexico
  • United States
  • Brazil
  • Hungary
  • Indonesia
  • Turkey

opal relate terms

  • opalescent

    Etymology Opalescent is derived from the Latin word opalus which referred to the opa

  • opal

    Etymology and Meaning The word opal is derived from the Latin word opalus which in

  • above

    Etymology The word above originates from the Old English word abufan which in turn

  • assume

    Etymology refers to the history and origin of words including their roots derivations a

  • Aufklarung

    Etymology French Aufklärung German Aufklärung English Enlightenment Meanin

  • eave

    Etymology The word eave comes from the Old English word efese which means edge or

  • eavesdropper

    Etymology The word eavesdropper originated in the 14th century from the Old English wo

  • hyphen

    Etymology Middle English iphen yphen c 1400 from Latin hyphen from Greek hyphḗ

  • hypo

    Etymology The word hypo comes from the Greek word hypo which means under or bel

  • hypochondria

    Etymology Greek ὑποχόνδριον hupokhondrion under the cartilage Mean

  • hypotenuse

    Etymology The word hypotenuse is derived from the Greek words hypo below or un

  • hypothalamus

    Etymology The term hypothalamus is derived from two Greek roots hypo meaning unde

  • hypothesis

    Etymology Derived from Ancient Greek hypothesis ὑπόθεσις meaning a placi

  • hypsi

    Etymology and Meaning The term hypsi is derived from the Greek word ὑψί hypsí

  • hypso

    Etymology The word hypso is derived from the Greek word hypsos which means height

  • opal

    Etymology and Meaning The word opal is derived from the Latin word opalus which in

  • open

    Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek word etymon meaning true sense o

  • often

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have cha

  • resuscitate

    Etymology The word resuscitate comes from the Latin word resuscitare meaning to res

  • somber

    Etymology Somber comes from the Old French word sombrier meaning to be dark or glo

  • souffle

    Etymology The word soufflé comes from the French verb souffler which means to blo

  • source

    Etymology The word source derives from the Old French word source which in turn come

  • soutane

    Etymology From French soutane from Late Latin sotanula diminutive of sotana from Med

  • souvenir

    Etymology The word souvenir is derived from the French word souvenir which means t

  • subject

    Etymology The word subject derives from the Late Latin subjectus meaning placed und

  • sublime

    Etymology The word sublime is derived from the Latin word sublimis which means loft

  • subpoena

    Etymology From Latin sub poena under penalty from sub under poena penalty

  • substance

    Etymology The word substance is derived from the Latin word substantia which means

  • subterfuge

    Etymology French from Latin subterfugio from subter below fugio to flee Meanin

  • subtle

    Etymology Sub Latin prefix meaning under slightly or less Tilis Latin adjec

  • suburb

    Etymology From Late Latin suburbium meaning lying near the city from Latin sub un

  • succeed

    Etymology Old French succeder Latin succedere to come up under take the place of P

  • succinct

    Etymology Succinct from Latin succinctus meaning drawn up fastened together Me

  • succor

    Etymology The word succor comes from the Old French word socors which in turn is de

  • succumb

    Etymology Latin succumbere to yield submit sink under suc under cumbere

  • sudden

    Etymology Sudden comes from the Latin word subitaneus meaning sudden unexpected ha

  • suffer

    Etymology Old French sofrir Latin sufferre Proto Indo European kwe bher kwe bhr i

  • sufficient

    Etymology The word sufficient comes from the Latin word sufficientis which itself i

  • suffix

    Suffix comes from the Latin word suffixus meaning fixed below It is a term used in lin

  • suffrage

    Etymology Middle English suffrage c 1440 Anglo French suffrage 13th century La

  • suggestion

    Etymology The word suggestion comes from the Latin word suggestio which means a whi

  • summon

    Etymology The word summon comes from the Middle English word somnen which is derived

  • supine

    Etymology The word supine comes from the Latin word supinus meaning lying on one s

  • supple

    Etymology Late Latin supplis noun and supplere verb Meaning to fill up to sup

  • supply

    Etymology Middle English supplien from Old French suplir supllier from Latin supp

  • support

    Etymology Latin supportāre from sub under portāre to carry Proto Indo Eur

  • suppose

    Etymology Meaning The study of the origin and development of words Origin Greek ety

  • surge

    Etymology The word surge originates from the Middle English word surgien which in tu

  • suspect

    Etymology The word suspect is derived from the Latin word suspectus meaning distru

  • suspend

    Etymology The word suspend comes from the Latin word suspendere which means to hang

  • sustain

    Etymology Latin sustinēre to hold up sustain endure Proto Indo European steh₂

  • Upanishad

    Etymology The term Upanishad is derived from two Sanskrit words Up near close t

  • uproar

    Etymology Middle English up roren from up adverb roren past participle of reren

  • valet

    Etymology The word valet is derived from the Old French word valet which itself come

  • varlet

    Etymology The word varlet is derived from the Middle English word varlet which in tu

  • vassal

    Etymology Old French vassal Late Latin vassallus servant household serf Possibly fr

  • mineral

    Etymology The term mineral is derived from the Latin word minera which means mine

  • giant

    Etymology The word giant comes from the Middle English word geaunt which in turn com

  • necromancy

    Etymology The term necromancy comes from the Greek words nekros νεκρός mean

  • apprehension

    Etymology Late Middle English in the sense act of arresting or seizing via Old

  • affidavit

    Etymology Latin affidavit meaning he she has sworn third person singular perfect

  • resolution

    Etymology Latin resolutio Root re again back solvere to loosen release Mea

  • theater

    Etymology The word theater originates from the Greek word theatron which is compose

  • cast

    Etymology The word cast has several distinct etymologies As a verb From Middle En

  • stymie

    Etymology The word stymie comes from the Middle English term stymye which means to

  • grave

    Etymology The word grave has its roots in the Latin word gravis which means heavy