jewel

Pronunciation: /d͡ʒul/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
  2. noun a person who is as brilliant and precious as a piece of jewelry
  3. verb adorn or decorate with precious stones

Etymology

From Middle English juel, jewel, juwel, jeuel, jowel, from Anglo-Norman juel, from Old French jouel, joel, joïel, hence French joyau, of uncertain origin. Perhaps based ultimately on Latin gaudium (“joy”), or on Latin iocus (“joke; jest”), or according to Pihan, from Arabic جَوْهَر (jawhar). Compare Medieval Latin jocale. Displaced native Old English māþm.

In classic literature

Synonyms

gem, precious stone

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
jewelry
Narrower (hyponyms)
solitaire, crown jewel, sapphire, ruby, pearl, diamond

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