In N. T. (Rev. xxi. 20) chrysoprasus. Forms: 3–5 crisopace, 4 crysopase, 6 chrusopasse, 7–8 chrysopass; 7–9 crysoprase, 9 chrysopras, 7– chrysoprase; also 4–5 crisopassus, 6 crysoprasos, crusoprasos, 7 chrysoprasus, etc. [ME. crisopace, a. OF. crisopace = It. crisopasso, ad. L. type crisopass-us = chrȳsopassus, found in some MSS. of Pliny, beside the etymological chrȳsoprasus, Gr. χρῡσόπρασος a golden-green gem, f. χρῡσό-ς gold + πράσον leek. Schade quotes many med.L. examples of chrysoprassus, and -passus, also -pastus, -parus, and chrysopasion, -ptasion, -pasius, -ptasius, -tapsus, corruptions, and partly, perh., etymologizing perversions of the name. Since the 16th c. the Eng. form has been more or less conformed to the original Gr. and Latin.]
a. The ancient name of a golden-green precious stone, now generally believed to have been a variety of the beryl, or to have included that among other stones of similar appearance. It was one of the stones to which in the Middle Ages was attributed the faculty of shining in the dark.
b. In mod. Min. Applied to an apple-green variety of chalcedony.
c. 1275. Luue Ron, 174, in O. E. Misc., 98. Smaragde, Beril, and crisopace.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 1012. Þe crysopase þe tenþe is tyȝt.
1382. Wyclif, Rev. xxi. 20. The tenthe, crisopassus [Tindale & Coverd., Crysoprasos; Cranmer Crusoprasos; Geneva, Rheims, Chrysoprasus].
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. xxvi. (1495), 561. Crisopassus is a stone of Ethiopia and is hyd in lyghte and seen in derknesse.
c. 1400–50. Alexander, 5274. Calcidoynes & crisopaces.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 5 b. The Chrusopasse … In the night time it is flamelike, in the day time yelow or wan.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., II. v. 93. That the wearing of a Crysoprase [will] make one out of love with gold, as some have delivered.
a. 1711. Ken, Poet. Wks. (1721), II. 163. The Chrysopass with golden spots bespread.
1804. Jameson, Min., I. 191. May not chrysopras … stand under chalcedony?
1835. New Monthly Mag., 299. The sky was clear and of the milky cerulean of chrysoprase.
1873. Longf., Wayside Inn, Azrael, 25. The signet-ring of chrysoprase … seemed to blaze with hidden fire.
1884. Dana, Min., 194.
c. The color of this stone. Also attrib.
1835. Willis, Pencillings, II. xliii. 40. The crysoprase green of the shallows.
1850. Mrs. Browning, Vis. Poets, I. 239. The lady’s face Did melt back in the chrysopras Of the orient morning sky.
