Webster's English Dictionary

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sapphire

sap.phire \'saf-.i-(*)r\ n [ME safir, fr. OF, fr. L sapphirus, fr. Gk 
   sappheiros, fr. He]b sappi-r, fr. Skt s'aniprivya, lit., dear to the planet 
   Saturn, fr. S'ani Saturn + priya dear 1a: a precious stone of transparent 
   rich blue corundum  1b: a pure variety of corundum in transparent or 
   translucent crystals used  as a gem; also : such a gem 2: a variable color 
   averaging a deep purplish blue  - sapphire aj