azure
UK[ˈæʒə(r)]US[ˈæʒər]
adj
Having the bright blue colour of a clear sky
n
A bright blue colour; a bright blue sky
Etymology
The word 'azure' traces a vivid journey from the material world to a colour concept. Its ultimate source is the Persian 'lāžward', referring to the prized semi-precious stone, lapis lazuli, known for its deep blue hue. Through Arabic and Medieval Latin, the term entered Old French, shedding its initial 'l' sound to become 'azur', which denoted both the stone and its distinctive colour. English adopted this term in the 14th century, where it solidified as the name for the brilliant blue of a clear sky, thus completing its evolution from a specific mineral to an abstract colour descriptor.
Analysis
The word 'azure' is a simplex loanword. It entered English from Old French 'azur', which came from Medieval Latin 'azura', itself derived from Arabic 'lāzaward' (lapis lazuli), ultimately from Persian 'lāžward' (lapis lazuli, blue stone).
Examples
The artist painted the sea a brilliant azure.
They sailed under a cloudless azure sky.
She preferred the azure of the summer sky to the grey of winter.