Jewel Meaning
/ˈd͡ʒuːəl/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone.
nounA valuable object used for personal ornamentation, especially one made of precious metals and stones; a piece of jewellery.
Sentence Examples
The jewel was stolen during the night.
Compare this genuine jewel with that imitation.
I sold the best jewel that I had.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The queen wore a sparkling ____ on her crown for the ceremony.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The crown was decorated with a large red ____ that caught the light and sparkled very brightly tonight.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Iachimo: 'Tis plate of rare device, and jewels / Of rich and exquisite form, their values great."
— 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene vi], lines 188–9:
"Wel, wel (Meander) thou art deepely read:
And hauing thee, I haue a iewell ſure:
Go on my Lord, and giue your charge I ſay,
Thy wit wil make vs Conquerors to day."
— c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii:
"Had our prince,—
Jewel of children,—seen this hour, he had pair'd
Well with this lord: there was not full a month
Between their births."
— c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
"The area between her eyebrows wrinkled with the increasing circular motions her two fingers made on her jewel."
— 2008, Another Time, Another Place: Five Novellas:
"Jewel he called her; and he would say this as he might have said ‘Jane,’ don’t you know, with a marital, homelike, peaceful effect. I heard the name for the first time ten minutes after I had landed in his courtyard, when, after nearly shaking my arm off, he darted up the steps and began to make a joyous, boyish disturbance at the door under the heavy eaves. ‘Jewel! O! Jewel. Quick! Here’s a friend come,’ …"
— 1899 September – 1900 July, Joseph Conrad, chapter XXVIII, in Lord Jim: A Tale, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1900, →OCLC, pages 297–298:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The queen wore a sparkling ____ on her crown for the ceremony.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The crown was decorated with a large red ____ that caught the light and sparkled very brightly tonight.