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The Latin word for “stone” is lapis, which rock hounds and jewelry lovers may be familiar with as the term for a semi-precious, deep blue gem also known as lapis lazuli, or “stone of the sky.” In the 1300s, lapis lent its shine to the English noun lapidary, referring to a cutter, polisher, or engraver of precious stones, as well as to the art of such a person. The crystalline refinement involved in the work of a lapidary eventually led, centuries later, to the use of lapidary as an adjective describing things that have the elegance and precision of inscriptions carved in stone monuments. Today it is used most often to characterize speech or prose (such as an essay, memoir, or address) that is considered notably clear and fine, but lapidary can also describe virtues such as grace and dignity, whether observed in one’s language or character.
Examples of lapidary in a Sentence
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 May 2024
Hobby lapidaries and gem collectors can find sunstones at Dust Devil Mining three ways: Dig for free in a deep pit: To keep any of the stones, you will be charged 50% of the wholesale value for better colored stones and clear stones that will cut over 8 carats.
—oregonlive, 2 Mar. 2023
The New Yorker, 26 June 2024
John Everett Benson, a stone carver whose lapidary inscriptions mark the grave of President John F. Kennedy and sites including the National Gallery of Art, conferring elegant permanence and permanent elegance with their stately strokes and serifs, died June 13 in Newport, R.I.
—Emily Langer, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Lapidary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lapidary. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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