wittywords

[wittywords]

𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐞

A film made so as to give a viewer the illusion of three-dimensional depth; a 3-D film.

[wittywords]

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬' 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

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ADDER - phrases and symbolism

AMBER - phrases and symbolism

Vocabulary lists

AFTER

AGATE

[wittywords]

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 "𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞"

my masterlist

agate, n.

An ornamental stone consisting of a hard variety of chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz), typically banded or otherwise variegated in colour and used for carving, jewellery, decorative work, etc. Also as a count noun: a piece of this stone.

A piece of agate set in a holder, used for burnishing gold or other metal; a tool consisting of this.

Printing and Typography (North American). A size of type larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil (in Britain called ruby), formerly used esp. in newspaper advertising. Also used as a unit of vertical measurement (approximately equal to 5½ points).

A playing marble made of agate, or one made of glass, etc., resembling agate in being opaque rather than transparent and having coloured variegated markings.

agated, adj. — Resembling or reminiscent of agate; marked like an agate.

agate eye, n. — poetic and literary. (Usually in plural) an eye resembling an agate, esp. in being dark, intense, or hard.

agate-eyed, adj. — Having eyes resembling agate, having a hard or intense gaze; also in extended use.

agate-forming, adj. — Resulting or involved in the formation of agate, esp. by metamorphism.

agate jasper, n. — A variety of jasper veined or clouded with agate; (also) chalcedony intermediate between agate and jasper; a stone consisting of such material; jaspagate, n.

agate shell, n. — The shell of an agate snail; (also) the animal itself.

agateware, n. — a. A kind of striped or variegated pottery made to resemble agate, usually by mixing coloured clays together; b. enamelled ironware or steel ware for household utensils (now rare).

agate work, n. — Artistic work done in agate; (also) objects made of agate viewed collectively.

agatiferous, adj. — Containing or yielding agate.

agatiform, adj. — Having the form or appearance of agate; resembling agate.

agatine, adj. — Resembling agate; of the nature of agate.

agatized, adj. — Esp. of a petrified substance: converted into agate or a form containing agate.

agaty, adj. — Of the nature of, containing, or resembling agate. In later use chiefly figurative, with reference to the eyes: hard, gimlety.

aggie, n. — colloquial and regional. A type of highly-prized playing marble made of agate or variegated glass resembling agate

dendrachate, n. — A variety of agate with tree-like markings.

Mocha, n. — Moss agate or a similar form of chalcedony with dendritic markings, often used to make jewellery, etc. More fully Mocha pebble, Mocha stone.

moss agate, n. — A variety of agate in which inclusions, typically of manganese oxide, produce black, brown, or esp. greenish dendritic forms resembling moss.

peacock stone, n. — Any of various semi-precious stones likened to the peacock's plumage in colour, pattern, or iridescence, such as malachite or varieties of agate.

phassachate, n. — Obsolete. rare. A lead-coloured variety of agate.

rainbow agate, n. — An iridescent variety of agate.

schmelz, n. — Any of several varieties of decorative glass produced by flashing, typically having a marbled or streaked appearance resembling that of agate.

Scotch pebble, n. — Now historical. An agate or similar semi-precious stone found in Scotland; (without plural) agate, chalcedony, or similar substance.

tree-agate, n. — A variety of agate with dendritic or tree-like markings (cf. moss agate n.).

𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐠𝐠 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞

[wittywords]

𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Absence of grief or sorrow; insensibility, callousness.

[wittywords]

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 "𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫"

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after age, n.  — Now somewhat archaic. A subsequent era; (in plural) future generations.

after-ball, n. — Chiefly New Zealand. An event, esp. a party, that takes place after a ball; in later use spec. a party arranged and attended by students following a ball that has been officially organized by their (secondary or high) school.

after-banquet, n. — Obsolete. An entertainment that takes place following a banquet.

after-baptism, n. — Obsolete. Later or subsequent baptism, spec. adult baptism, anabaptism; an instance of this.

after-being, n. — A subsequent existence.

afterbirth, n. — The placenta and remains of the fetal membranes, which are normally expelled from the uterus after the delivery of the fetus.

after-blow, n.¹ — A subsequent or retaliatory blow.

after-blow, n.² — Metallurgy. Esp. in the basic Bessemer process: continuation of the blow for a short time after decarburization is complete, in order to dephosphorize the steel.

after-born, adj. — Born later; born after another person, esp. a sibling; younger. Also figurative.

after-brain, n. — A posterior part of the brain; esp. the cerebellum or the medulla oblongata; cf. hindbrain n.

afterburn, n.

A lingering burning sensation. In later use esp.: a warm sensation in the mouth or throat caused by hot or spicy food or strong alcoholic drink.

Burning that takes place after some event; spec. combustion after the removal or cessation of a flame.

A temporary increase in a person's metabolic rate following a period of exercise.

after-Christ, adj. & n. — a. adj. Occurring or existing after the lifetime of Christ; b. n. a second Christ; a successor to Christ (rare).

after-chrome, v. — To apply a mordant to (an already dyed material); to subject to after-chroming. Occasionally also intransitive.

afterclap, n.

An act or effect occurring after the conclusion of some affair or incident, esp. when unexpected or undesirable; an unwelcome consequence or surprise; (also) a later threat.

A later event that reproduces some of the features of an earlier one; (literal) a second or further clap of thunder.

after-comer, n. — A person who comes after; a descendant; a successor. Also in plural: future generations, posterity.

after-course, n.

A later course in a meal; spec. the final course; a dessert. Frequently figurative.

A way of life or mode of behaviour that is followed at a later point in time; the later part of the development of anything that continues in time, as a person's life, a disease, etc.

after-crop, n. — A second crop harvested, esp. in a single season or year. Also figurative: something extra or additional.

after-cure, n. — A further course of medical treatment, esp. one given during or after residence at a spa; treatment of this kind.

after-death, n.— Now usually in the form afterdeath. An existence which follows death; an afterlife.

after-dinner, n. — The time after dinner; a period of time after dinner, often devoted to recreation; the remainder of the day after dinner. Also: the afternoon.

after-dinner, adj.

Following dinner; taking place after dinner; (of a speech, toast, etc.) given or made after dinner, prior to leaving the table; (of a speaker) that gives such speeches.

Of drink, food, or tobacco: consumed or taken after dinner, esp. as a digestive.

after-drop, n.

A raindrop which falls after a cloud has passed. In quots. figurative and in figurative context. Obsolete.

Medicine and Surgery. A continued or renewed drop in core body temperature occurring as a subject with induced or accidental hypothermia is rewarmed, resulting from the return of very cold blood from the extremities to the core circulation.

after-effect, n. — An effect that follows the initial or primary action of something; an effect that follows after an interval; a secondary or later effect; a delayed or lingering effect. Frequently in plural.

after-frame, n. — Shipbuilding any of the frames in the rear half of a ship.

after-gathering, n — a. Fruit or crops gathered after the initial harvest, reaping, etc.; gleaning; an item of fruit or a crop so gathered; also figurative (now rare); b. a social gathering which takes place after an event; an after-party.

afterglow, n.

A glowing sensation or warm flush to the skin caused esp. by the therapeutic application of cold water.

The remnant or residue of something; (now esp.) a pleasant feeling remaining after a successful or happy experience. spec. A warm or pleasant feeling experienced after sexual intercourse.

A glow or radiance that remains for a time after the disappearance of any light, spec. that remaining in the sky after the sun has set. Also figurative.

Physics. Light that persists after the cessation of an electric current or radiation that initially gave rise to it; spec. the short-lived persistence of traces on a radar screen after they are generated.

afterheat, n. — Heat that remains or is left over; heat occurring after an initial period of heating or as an after-effect. Also figurative.

after-hour, n. — A period of time following any incident or act; a later or subsequent moment; a later hour of the day. Cf. after hours n.

after hours, n. — The hours following any incident or act; subsequent hours; the later hours of a day; (in extended use) the later part of a person's life. Also: future times; posterity.

after hours, adv.

After the normal time for doing something; spec. after normal working hours. Also: after the usual opening hours of a shop or other business.

After the time at which some restriction comes into effect; spec. (a) after curfew; (b) after the times during which a licensed establishment may sell alcohol; after legal licensing hours.

after hours, adj.

That takes place after than the normal time for such an activity; that takes place after normal working hours; relating to a time after normal working hours.

Of or relating to the time after that when alcohol is usually or legally sold; designating a bar, club, etc., that opens later than the regular opening hours for such an establishment; (of music) (of a type) played at a late-opening bar, club, etc.

after-image, n. — A visual sensation which remains after the stimulus that gave rise to it ceases. Also in extended use and figurative.

afterknowledge, n. — Knowledge after the event, retrospective knowledge; cf. foreknowledge n.

after leech, n. — The rear edge of a sail.

afterlife, n.

The later part of a person's life; a later period in life; later life.

A life after death; spec. (frequently with the) a state or condition of everlasting life after death.

figurative. Continued or renewed use, influence, etc.; an instance of this.

afterlight, n.

= afterglow n.

A later revelation or realization; (as a mass noun) understanding of a situation or event after it has happened or developed; hindsight.

after-lodging, n. — Obsolete rare. Something that is lodged behind, spec. a portion of coarse flour that remains in the sieve.

after-mass, n. — a. A service held following a mass. b. The second or later feast day of a saint. Obsolete and archaic

after-match, adj. — Originally and chiefly British. Occurring or taking place after a sporting match; cf. after-game adj., post-match adj.

aftermath, n.

Agriculture. A second crop or new growth of grass (or occasionally another plant used as feed) after the first has been mown or harvested. Also figurative.

A period or state of affairs following a significant event, esp. when that event is destructive or harmful.

A (usually undesired) thing remaining or left after the end or exit of something; an unwelcome consequence or effect.

after-meeting, n. — A subsequent meeting; (Christian Church) a social, administrative, or devotional gathering held shortly after a church service or other religious assembly.

afterpain, n.

Pain which follows later; an instance of this. Also: a residual pain.

A painful contraction of the uterus occurring within the first few days after the completion of labour (usually in plural). Also: pain of this nature. Also figurative.

after-party, n. — A party (usually of an exclusive nature) which takes place after another party or after a show or other event.

after-proof, n. — Examination or testing of a manufactured article, esp. a firearm, carried out after its initial testing. Obsolete. rare.

after-reckoning, n. — Now rare. A later or subsequent reckoning (in various senses); (in early use esp.) the Last Judgement.

after-ripening, n. — The occurrence of chemical or physical changes in a fruit, seed, or other plant part after harvesting, (in later use) spec. such changes leading to the breaking of dormancy in seeds.

after-roll, n. — A second or subsequent roll of thunder; (also) a roll of the waves following the subsidence of a storm; frequently figurative and in figurative contexts.

after-rope, n. — Nautical a rope attached towards the rear of a ship, esp. one used for mooring.

after-sail, n. — (Usually in plural) a sail on the mizzen-mast of a ship, or on the stays between the mainmast and the mizzen-mast; (also occasionally) a sail on the mainmast; cf. foresail n.

after-sales, adj. — (attributive) (of a service connected with a purchased item) offered or provided by a retailer or manufacturer after the sale of an item; frequently in after-sales service; cf. post-sales adj.

after-school, adj. — attributive. Of, relating to, or occurring in a period (immediately) after normal school hours; spec. designating any of various schemes which provide childcare, organized activities, or supervised study after school hours, usually on school premises; (also) designating the venue for such activities. Frequently in after-school club, after-school program, etc.

after-season, n. — A later period or season; the latter part of, or the period after the end of, the season.

after-sensation, n. — A sensation that persists or recurs after the stimulus which gave rise to it ceases; (also) sensation of this kind. Cf. after-image n.

aftersight, n. — Consideration of past events; retrospective view; the capacity to look upon the past for wisdom or insight. Frequently opposed to foresight.

after-ski, adj. — Designating clothing worn or intended to be worn after skiing; of or relating to the period of the day after skiing is over. Cf. après-ski n.

after-spring, n. — A spring that appears later; a second or later spring (in various senses). Frequently figurative, esp. with reference to a later improvement after a period of decline or decay. Cf. after-winter n. Now rare.

after-sum, n. — Obsolete rare. The purchase money paid after the deposit, the balance.

after-sun, adj. — Designating a product applied to the skin after exposure to the sun to help reduce sunburn, rehydrate the skin, or enhance tanning.

after-supper, n. — The time after supper; the time between supper and bedtime. Frequently in at after-supper. Obsolete (archaic in later use).

aftertaste, n.

A taste remaining in the mouth after eating or drinking something, esp. one which is bitter or otherwise unpleasant. Also in extended use.

figurative. An (unpleasant) quality or feeling deriving from and lingering on after some event; a residual sensation. Frequently with modifying adjective.

after-thinker, n. — A person who thinks chiefly or only about events in the past.

afterthought, n.

A thought occurring later or subsequently; a thought applied or acted upon at a later time. Also: an act of thinking about a past incident, event, etc. Later also as a mass noun.

The action or an act of reconsidering something done earlier, with a view to changing a decision respecting it.

Something that is thought of or added later, typically as a secondary or subsidiary item.

colloquial. The youngest child in a family, typically born considerably later than the other children, and often the result of an unintended pregnancy.

aftertouch, n.

A second or further touch.

Physiology. The after-sensation of pressure. rare.

Music. On a piano: the (quality of) response to continued pressure on a key after initially striking it. Now also: a feature on an electronic keyboard for reproducing this response.

afterview, n. — The action or an act of reconsidering or reflecting on a past event, activity, etc.; a retrospective or subsequent view on or of something. Cf. fore-view n.

after-winter, n. — A second winter when spring is expected, a renewal of winter; = back-winter n.

after-wit, n. — Wisdom acquired after the event, typically too late to be of use; the fact of acquiring wisdom in this way; an instance of this. Frequently proverbially and in plural in early use.

after-witted, adj. — That is wise after the event; lacking foresight.

afterword, n. — Originally: a later word; a word (or passage) printed or spoken after another. Now usually: a passage added at the end of a book or other work, containing concluding remarks or similar additional matter. Cf. foreword n., postscript n.

after-work, adj. — attributive. Of, relating to, or occurring in a period of time after the working day; spec. designating activities or social events taking place (immediately) after work hours.

afterworld, n.

A future state of existence; a later generation; the world of the future; future generations considered collectively; posterity. Now rare.

A world entered after death; the world of the afterlife. Frequently with the.

after-yards, n. — Nautical. The yards in the mainmast and mizzen-mast.

[wittywords]

𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐭

Of living beings (and their attributes): Wasted or worn out with old age, decayed and enfeebled with infirmities; old and feeble.

[wittywords]

𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫

(A name for) a person who is habitually pessimistic, negative, gloomy, etc.

[wittywords]

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐫

A phrase or sense that originated as a metaphor, but which has become so familiar that it is typically accepted as a literal or straightforward usage.

[wittywords]

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

A strong shutter or plate fitted to a cabin window or porthole to prevent water entering during a storm; a portlight that does not open.

[wittywords]

my masterlist

The adder or the common European viper is a diurnal snake that can be found in most Western Europe and all the way to East Asia. Though venomous, the adder is not highly dangerous, the bite rarely being fatal. It tends to be rather timid and bites only when cornered or alarmed. The adder will usually disappear into the undergrowth at a hint of any danger, but will return once all is quiet, often to the same spot. The species is cold-adapted and hibernates in the winter. Its diet consists mainly of small mammals, such as mice, rats, voles, and shrews, as well as lizards. Sometimes, slow worms are taken, and even weasels and moles. Adders also feed on amphibians, such as frogs, newts, and salamanders. Birds are also reported to be consumed, especially nestlings and even eggs, for which they will climb into shrubbery and bushes. Generally, diet varies depending on locality.

Adders in folklore

Even though much of the lore has drifted into obscurity, adders remain the subject of much superstition in modern Britain and a recurring motif in literature, culture and history. One such superstition claims that mortally wounded adders will not die until sunset. Another, perpetuated even by countrymen who spent their lives amongst adders, claims that the female swallows her young to protect them, then releases them after the danger has passed.

Simply crossing the path of an adder was believed by Ancient Britons to be a sign of bad luck. Later, this became refined to simply giving bad luck to your selling or buying if you met an adder on the way to market. In the Dorset area, to find an adder on a doorstep was a bad omen; someone in the household was sure to die. Elsewhere, the snake had to be found within the house, and this meant that someone would die within a year. Even dreaming about adders was a bad omen, a warning sign of one's enemies plotting against the dreamer.

An adder skin hung above the hearth ensured good luck and protection against fire. Killing the first adder of Spring was supposed to bring the perpetrator good luck and protection against adversity - bashing an adder with an ash stick before sunset would also supposedly neutralize evil spirits and protect the snake's attacker. The ash-tree in particular is said "to have a spite against snakes."

As the only venomous snake in much of Northern Europe, many tales arose about the adder's bite or its presumed curative properties. It was believed that if someone was bitten, the fat of an adder applied directly to the wound would provide immediate relief. Dried adder skins wrapped around the ailing part of the body were thought to cure rheumatism, thorn pricks, and headaches even into the 19th century; and powdered adder skin was considered valuable for ailments of the spleen and, if added to soup, a cure for constipation. There are also benefits for animals: a snake skin plaited into a whip and used by a wagoner enables the animal to pull much heavier loads. On the principle of like cures like, adder oil was believed to cure deafness and earache.

The Glain Neidr, also known as Maen Magl, "glass of the serpents", snake-stone, adder’s stone or adder’s egg, was a sacred amulet worn by the Druids of Wales. The adder's stone looked like a perfectly round, polished pebble with a pale green, azure, or ‘terracotta’ coloring. The Druids believed the stone possessed healing powers, especially for ailments of the eye, and that it could also be used as a poison. The stone ensured victory over one's enemies, it offered the gift of clairvoyance, and in some instances, it could make the owner invisible or capable of finding hidden treasures. It was said to be found in the middle of large gatherings of adders in early Spring, especially on May Eve, and the tale likely arose from the Adder Dance, a form of combat between the males shortly after emerging from hibernation.

The legend of the adder's stone is similar to another old superstition. According to this, whenever a snake is found under or near a hazel-tree on which the mistletoe grows, the creature has a precious stone on its head. These stones were attributed with varying powers, and they were always associated with witchcraft and magic.

Adder in mythology and literature

William Shakespeare's works mention the adder many times, referencing folk beliefs such as the supposed deafness of the snake or its supernatural properties.

“Eye of newt and toe of frog.

Wool of bat and tongue of dog

Adder’s fork and blind-worm’s sting

Lizards leg and owlets wing.” [Macbeth Act IV, Scene 1]

"It is the bright day that brings forth the Adder, and that craves wary walking” [Julius Ceasar, Act II, Scene 1]

"Art thou, like the Adder, waxen deaf?” [Henry VI Part 2; Act III, Scene 2]

“In so profound abysm I throw all care

Of other’s voices, that my adder’s sense

To critic and to flatter stopped are.” [Sonnet 112]

The adder appears in the Arthurian legend as well. It is said to have caused the Battle of Camlan, in which King Arthur was killed. As the armies of King Arthur and Mordred faced each other, an adder emerged suddenly. One of Arthur’s men drew his sword to kill the animal, but Mordred believed this to be a sign of attack, prompting the battle to begin.

Terms and phrases with "adder"

adder-bead, n. — A bead worn as an amulet, believed to be generated by a snake or snakes (adder-stone).

adder-deaf, adj. — poetic (now rare) Deaf as an adder.

adder-flame, n. — A flame suggestive of an adder.

adder fly, n. — Obsolete. A dragonfly.

adder-footed, adj. — Obsolete (poetic). Having a foot or feet like a dragon.

adder-hate, n. — Obsolete (poetic). Hate considered as a poisonous or deadly emotion; intense hate.

adder's grass, n.— Any of several plants thought to resemble a snake in some way, or used to treat snakebites; esp. adder's tongue, genus Ophioglossum; cf. adderwort n. Now historical and rare.

adder-stone, n. — A stone of varying descriptions, typically having a naturally formed hole and used as a bead or amulet.

adder's tongue, n.

Any of various plants used medicinally in the treatment of snakebites, or thought to resemble a snake's tongue in some way.

Any of various small ferns of the genus Ophioglossum or (more widely) the family Ophioglossaceae, esp. O. vulgatum, typically having a single oval sterile frond and a spore-bearing spike, which together are thought to resemble the mouth and tongue of a snake. Also more fully adder's tongue fern.

North American. Any of various North American dog's-tooth violets (genus Erythronium), esp. (more fully yellow adder's-tongue) E. americanum.

adder-tongued, adj. — a. (Of a plant) having parts resembling the tongue of an adder (rare);b. (of a person) using malicious or offensive language; spiteful.

deaf adder, n.— With reference or allusion to Psalm 58:4 (see quot. 1611): an asp or other snake regarded as deaf or unhearing; (hence) a person unwilling to hear or listen. Cf. (as) deaf as an adder, adder-deaf adj.

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[wittywords]

1. A hard, translucent fossilized resin, typically yellow, orange, or brown, used for jewellery and ornaments and also in perfumery and traditional medicine.

2. The colour of amber; a (translucent) yellowish-brown or golden colour.

3. figurative. Something which protects something else from disturbance or decay, or which serves to prevent change, movement, or development.

4. Flavoured or perfumed with ambergris; resembling or evoking the smell of ambergris.

5. Frequently with ‘the’. Designating an (alcoholic) drink of an amber or light brown colour. Now usually: spec. (chiefly Australian) designating beer, esp. lager. Often in amber fluid, amber liquid.

Legends & Symbolism

Throughout history, the beauty and origins of amber have been used as a source of inspiration for various myths and legends. One such myth connects its origins to the sun-god Helios and his daughters. After the death of Phaëthon, son of Helios, his sisters spend months mourning him at his resting place. What happens next differs from storyteller to storyteller, some viewing it as a mercy, others as a punishment, and some describing it simply as a neutral, spontaneous occurrence. One day, as they were grieving at his grave, the Heliades suddenly turn into fully-fledged poplar trees and begin to weep sappy tears, which became the first pieces of amber.

The Athenian historian Nicias, on the other hand, believed that “amber is a liquid produced by the rays of the sun; which is carried off by the tides of the Ocean, and thrown up upon the shores.”

In Lithuanian mythology, the goddess Jurate falls in love with the fisherman Kastytis and takes him to live with her in her amber palace at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The thunder god Perkūnas, overwhelmed by rage and jealousy, decides to strike the palace as punishment, which explodes into millions of pieces to be washed ashore after storms. In some variations, the sea goddess rescues her lover. In others, Perkūnas kills the fisherman, and Jurate mourns him to this day, her amber tears joining the pieces coming ashore and her cries booming across the stormy sea.

In Chinese mythology, amber is often referred to as the “soul of the tiger,” symbolizing strength and courage. It also played a role in traditional Chinese medicine and Feng Shui, where it was associated with vitality and prosperity, making it a favored material in ancient Chinese culture.

Across different cultures, amber is a symbol for healing, protection, love and grief, and a bridge between the natural and the divine, embodying both earthly beauty and celestial power.

Properties and usage

Amber’s relative softness made it a preferred material for ancient jewellers, with the disadvantage of being susceptible to degradation, becoming more opaque from exposure to air. In ancient Egypt and Greece, people believed amber amulets protected them from misfortune and sickness, specifically colic and teething pains. They also noticed that amber, when rubbed, is capable of attracting small objects such as dried grasses, which inspired women to use amber for their spindle whorls so it would attract the leaves and chaff. In ancient China it was customary to burn amber during large festivities. The resulting oil was combined with nitric acid to create “artificial musk”, a resin with a fragrance resembling pinewood. In modern perfumery, amber isn’t normally used since it produces very little scent. Instead, scents referred to as “amber” are often created and patented.

Historical fun facts

The Amber Room was a chamber decorated in amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors, located in the Catherine Palace of Tsarskoye Selo near Saint Petersburg.

Hand-coloured photograph of the original Amber Room, 1931

A priceless piece of art, with extraordinary architectural features, such as gilding, carvings, 450 kg (990 lb) of amber panels, gold leaf, gemstones, and mirrors, the Amber Room was sometimes dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It was commissioned by the Prussian King Frederick I in 1701, but sadly, he did not live long enough to see the work in his lifetime; the room was finished under his successor. Friedrich Wilhelm I gave it to the Russian Tsar Peter the Great in 1716, looking to strengthen their alliance against Sweden.

The Amber Room was shipped to Russia in 18 large boxes and installed in the Winter House in St. Petersburg as a part of a European art collection. In 1755, Czarina Elizabeth ordered the room to be moved to the Catherine Palace in Pushkin and later the Italian designer Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli redesigned the room to fit into its new, larger space using additional amber shipped from Berlin.

During Operation Barbarossa, initiated by Adolf Hitler, the Nazi soldiers looted the Amber Room, along with tens of thousands of art treasures. In 1941, the priceless room reached Königsberg in East Prussia, for storage and display in the town’s castle. As the war reached its end, the museum’s director was advised to dismantle the Amber Room and crate it away, but soon after the allied bombing raids destroyed the city and turned the castle museum into ruins.

After the war, the Amber Room was never seen in public again, though reports have occasionally surfaced stating that pieces of the Amber Room survived the war. In 2004, a lengthy investigation by British investigative journalists concluded that the Amber Room was most likely destroyed when Königsberg Castle was damaged, but many people have come up with curious theories as to where the lost treasure might be. From the bottom of the Baltic sea, to secret passages under the Königsberg Castle, to the forests in the Ore Mountains, the world can’t seem to let go of the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, and so the reconstruction of the Amber Room began in 1979 and was completed 25 years late, the room remaining on display to the public at the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum Reserve outside of St. Petersburg.

Words and phrases with “amber”

like a fly (also insect) in amber and variants- used of something permanently preserved, immobilized, or unchanging, or which is regarded as a curious relic of the past.

on (also at) amber: (of a set of traffic lights) showing an amber light; (hence figurative, of a person, proceeding, etc.): unable to progress; temporarily held up or held back.

amberada – Artificial amber used by Europeans for trading in West Africa.

amber alert – Originally Military. A warning that danger, or an emergency, is thought to be near but not actually imminent; an instruction to be prepared for an emergency; (on amber alert) an initial state of readiness to respond to an emergency.

Amber Alert – An announcement that alerts the public to a missing person (esp. an abducted child), disseminated via media broadcasts, electronic roadway signs, etc.; an emergency response system using such announcements.

amber-bush – The head of a young person, typified as a head of bushy, amber-coloured hair

amber-crowned – Having an amber-coloured crown; esp. having a crown of amber-coloured hair.

amber-dropping – That drips amber.

ambered – Originally: flavoured or perfumed with ambergris. Later also: resembling or evoking the smell of ambergris.

ambered sugar – Sugar flavoured with ambergris.

amber-fauna – The insects and other animals of which the remains are found in amber.

amber fishing – The action or practice of dredging for amber at the bottom of the ocean.

amber flora – 1. The plants from which amber is derived. 2. The plants of which the remains are found in amber.

amber forest – The prehistoric forest containing the trees from whose resin amber was formed.

amber gambler – A driver of a road vehicle who accelerates when the traffic lights change from green to amber (instead of stopping, as required by law), gambling that no vehicle will cross his or her path; a driver who starts off when the traffic lights show red and amber together, but not yet green.

ambergris – A wax-like substance having a brownish grey colour and a sweet earthy scent, formed as a natural secretion in the bile duct of sperm whales, and has long been used in perfumery.

amberiferous – Designating a rock or sedimentary deposit containing amber. Also: designating a region in which deposits of amber occur.

amberina .- A type of art glass, originally and chiefly manufactured in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, having a characteristic two-tone colour, shading from deep red at the top of the piece of glassware to pale amber at the bottom. Also (and in earliest use) more fully amberina glass.

ambering – The action or process of making something amber in colour. Also: the result of this; amber colouring.

amber light – 1. A yellow or amber warning light used to instruct traffic; esp. the middle of three lights in a set of traffic lights, serving as a warning that the signal is about to change to red (stop) or green (go); = yellow light

2. figurative and in figurative contexts. A cautionary indicator or signal; spec. (a) A warning of likely difficulties ahead, requiring heightened caution or vigilance; (b) qualified or tacit permission to proceed in a particular course of action

amber-locked – Having locks of amber-coloured hair.

amber nectar – An alcoholic drink of an amber colour. Now usually: spec. beer, esp. lager.

amber oil -A yellow liquid obtained by distilling amber or (in later use) another resin such as colophony.

amberous – Resembling amber in colour; (translucent) yellowish-brown or golden.

amber pear – A variety of pear said to have a small rounded shape with the scent of ambergris or the scent or flavour of musk (cf. ambrette)

amber plum – Any of several varieties of plum having either a musky flavour or golden skin or flesh.

amber pudding – An open pie or tart consisting of a pastry case with a filling of fruit or (occasionally) puréed, sweetened nuts, with a meringue topping.

Amber Road – an ancient trade route for the transfer of amber from coastal areas of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, which defined prehistoric trade routes between Northern and Southern Europe.

amber-sanded – Consisting of, covered with, or containing amber-coloured sand.

amberseed – The fragrant seeds of the musk okra, Abelmoschus moschatus, used as a flavouring and in perfumery. Also called ambrette, musk seed.

amber shell – (The shell of) an amber snail.

amber snail – A small snail of the genus Succinea or family Succineidae, having a translucent shell of a pale amber colour and typically found in damp terrestrial habitats.

amber-tipped – Having a tip made of amber.

amber tree – A prehistoric tree of the kind which produced the resin from which amber was formed.

amber varnish – Varnish made from amber or from a tree resin such as copal.

amber-weeping – That exudes resin; (usually) spec. (Greek Mythology) that weeps tears of amber.

ambery – Resembling amber in colour; (translucent) yellowish-brown or golden.

ambreada – Artificial amber used by Europeans for trading in West Africa.

ambrology – The scientific study of amber.

black amber – A hard black semi-precious form of lignite, able to receive a brilliant polish and used ornamentally, esp. in Victorian mourning jewellery; jet.

burmite – A variety of amber found in Burma (Myanmar), used by the Chinese in the manufacture of objects of art.

enamber – To scent or flavour with ambergris.

inclusum – Amber which contains an insect, leaf, or other piece of organic matter embedded and preserved within it. Occasionally also: any organism or organic matter embedded and preserved in amber.

krantzite – A fossil resin allied to amber, occurring near Nienburg in Hanover.

rumanite – A variety of amber found in Romania and containing sulfur and succinic acid.

simetite – A variety of amber found in Sicily, ranging in colour from deep red to orange-yellow.

sunstone– Amber.

walchowite – A honey-yellow resin similar to amber.

yellow amber – Now chiefly historical. The fossil resin amber, originally as distinct from substances such as ambergris, spermaceti, and jet, which were respectively known as amber, white amber, and black amber; (occasionally also) a pure yellow form of the fossil resin amber.

Things amber can describe (“amber ________”)

eyes, hair, beads, light, glass, dropping, liquid, colour, tree, fish, varnish, fire, oil, bottles, waves, necklaces, brown, yellow, pendants, honey, ornaments, gold, malt, hue, deposits, clouds, glow, objects, glasses, sunlight, grease, satin, smiles, tint, tips, rays, filters, soul, shade, fluid, amulet, violet, wheat, dust, shadow, rosaries, lenses, jewelry, lamps, trinkets, coasts, sand

How amber is described (“________ amber”)

dark, pale, clear, deep, red, golden, green, white, transparent, rich, pure, black, blue, bright, translucent, soft, warm, true, reddish, polished, fine, grey, thick, powdered, delicate, raw, olive, cloudy, burmese, precious, dull, fossil, burnt, pink, clouded, brilliant, opaque, cretaceous, gray, genuine, artificial, coral, finest, thin, crystal, faint

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yeah so I decided to abandon that new blog and just move my post on tumblr instead because trying to figure out wordpress takes too much time

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𝐃𝐚𝐲-𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫

Surface water, esp. as opposed to water from a spring or aquifer.

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𝐃𝐚𝐲-𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤

A faint line of daylight visible in the sky, as at dawn or dusk; (also) dawn itself.

[wittywords]

𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐰

Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the atmosphere of a planet when it is illuminated by the sun.

[wittywords]

𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

A kind of small ornamental writing-table or escritoire fitted with drawers, etc.

[wittywords]

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

The collection or monitoring of (esp. digital) data relating to personal details or activities, regarded as a form of surveillance.