Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
cinnabar [sin-uh-bahr] EXAMPLES|WORD ORIGIN noun a mineral, mercuric sulfide, HgS, occurring in red crystals or masses: the principal ore of mercury. red mercuric sulfide, used as a pigment. bright red; vermillion. Liberaldictionary.com
Origin of cinnabar 1350–1400; Latin cinnabaris Greek kinnábari Middle English cynoper Medieval Latin, Latin as aboveRelated formscin·na·bar·ine [sin-uh-buh-reen, -ber-in, -bahr-ahyn, -een] /ˈsɪn ə bəˌrin, -bər ɪn, -ˌbɑr aɪn, -in/, cin·na·bar·ic [sin-uh-bar-ik] /ˌsɪn əˈbær ɪk/, adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 Examples from the Web for cinnabar Historical Examples of cinnabar
At the mention of the name of Purdy, Cinnabar Joe started perceptibly.
James B. Hendryx
Out of the tail of his eye Cinnabar Joe saw his wife step from the doorway.
James B. Hendryx
Cinnabar removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair.
James B. Hendryx
Cinnabar Joe placed his hands on his hips and stared at the girl in astonishment.
James B. Hendryx
An’ if that there gal wasn’t safe at Cinnabar Joe’s, I’d see that he got him tonight.
James B. Hendryx
British Dictionary definitions for cinnabar cinnabar noun a bright red or brownish-red mineral form of mercuric sulphide (mercury(II) sulphide), found close to areas of volcanic activity and hot springs. It is the main commercial source of mercury. Formula: HgS. Crystal structure: hexagonal the red form of mercuric sulphide (mercury(II) sulphide), esp when used as a pigment a bright red to reddish-orange; vermilion a large red-and-black European moth, Callimorpha jacobaeae: family Arctiidae (tiger moths, etc) Word Origin for cinnabar C15: from Old French cenobre, from Latin cinnābaris, from Greek kinnabari, of Oriental origin Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for cinnabar n.
mid-15c., “red or crystalline form of mercuric sulphide,” also applied to other ores of mercury, originally with reference to its use as a pigment; from Old French cinabre (13c.), from Late Latin cinnabaris, from Greek kinnabari, of oriental origin (cf. Persian zanjifrah in the same sense). Also used 14c.-17c. of red resinous juice of a certain Eastern tree, which was believed to be a mixture of dragon’s and elephant’s blood.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
