2011-01-26

jinian: (gun or pen?)
2011-01-26 05:39 pm
Entry tags:

etymological moment

Telesia, corundum (ruby or sapphire). Originally télésie, from τελέσια, plural neuter of τελέσιος finishing, completing, perfecting; meaning "a perfect body" (Haüy, 1796), according to Victoria Finlay at least. Haüy seems to have distinguished sapphire from ruby at the time, but later usage made this a blanket term for corundum stones.

So télésie is a perfect body? James H. Schmitz, I am looking at you with suspicion...