aymante

Alternative forms

• aymant (apocopic)

Etymology

From Medieval Latin, ultimately from Latin adamās (“adamant”), from Ancient Greek ἀδάμας (adámas, “invincible”), reinforced by Old French aïmant.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ajˈmãn.te]

Noun

aymante f (plural aymantes)

1. magnet, lodestone
   • c. 1250, Alfonso X, Lapidario, f. 6v.

     Et aun a otra ṕpriedat que el uidrio la obedece ¬ tiral aſſi como la aymante tira el fierro.

     And yet another property is that glass obeys it and it pulls it, just like the magnet attracts iron.

   • Idem, f. 55r.

     Et purga el oro como dixiemos delas otras aymantes que an poder de purgar.

     And it purges gold in the same way we said other magnets have the power to purge.