King James Bible Dictionary

(Ezekiel 1:22, with the epithet "terrible," as dazzling the spectators with its brightness). The word occurs in Revelation 4:6; 21:11; 22:1. It is a stone of the flint order, the most refined kind of quartz. The Greek word here used means also literally "ice." The ancients regarded the crystal as only pure water congealed into extreme hardness by great length of time.

A precious stone.
Job 28:17; Ezekiel 1:22; Revelation 4:6; Revelation 21:11; Revelation 22:1

the representative in the Authorized Version of two Hebrew words.

1. Zecucith occurs only in (Job 28:17) where "glass" probably is intended.
2. kerach occurs in numerous passages in the Old Testament to denote "ice," "frost," etc.; but once only (Ezekiel 1:22) as is generally understood, to signify "crystal." The ancients supposed rock-crystal to be merely ice congealed by intense cold. The similarity of appearance between ice and crystal caused no doubt the identity of the terms to express these substances. The Greek word occurs in (Revelation 4:6; 21:1) It may mean either "ice" or "crystal."

CRYSTAL, noun [Latin Gr., frost.]

1. In chemistry and mineralogy, an inorganic body, which, by the operation of affinity, has assumed the form of a regular solid, terminated by a certain number of plane and smooth surfaces.

2. A factitious body, cast in glass houses, called crystal glass; a species of glass, more perfect in its composition and manufacture, than common glass. The best kind is the Venice crystal It is called also factitious crystal or paste.

3. A substance of any kind having the form of a crystal

4. The glass of a watch-case.

Rock crystal or mountain crystal a general name for all the transparent crystals of quartz, particularly of limpid or colorless quartz.

Iceland crystal a variety of calcarious spar, or crystalized carbonate of lime, brought from Iceland. It occurs in laminated masses, easily divisible into rhombs, and is remarkable for its double refraction.

CRYSTAL, adjective Consisting of crystal or like crystal; clear; transparent; lucid; pellucid.

By crystal streams that murmur thorough the meads.

CRYSTAL-FORM, adjective Having the form of crystal.

CRYSTALINE, adjective [Latin , Gr.]

1. Consisting of crystal; as a crystaline palace.

2. Resembling crystal; pure; clear; transparent; pellucid; as a crystalline sky.

CRYSTALINE heavens, in ancient astronomy, two spheres imagined between the primum mobile and the firmament, in the Ptolemaic system, which supposed the heavens to be solid and only susceptible of a single motion.

CRYSTALINE humor, crystaline lens, a lentiform pellucid body, composed of a very white, transparent, firm substance, inclosed in a membranous capsule, and situated in a depression in the anterior part of the vitreous humor of the eye. It is somewhat convex, and serves to transmit and refract the rays of light to the vitreous humor.

CRYSTALIZABLE, adjective [from crystalize.] That may be crystalized; that may form or be formed into crystals.

CRYSTALIZATION, noun [from crystalize.]

1. The act or process by which the parts of a solid body, separated by the intervention of a fluid or by fusion, again coalesce or unite, and form a solid body. If the process is slow and undisturbed, the particles assume a regular arrangement, each substance taking a determinate and regular form, according to its natural laws; but if the process is rapid or disturbed, the substance takes an irregular form. This process is the effect of refrigeration or evaporation.

2. The mass or body formed by the process of crystalizing.

CRYSTALIZE, verb transitive To cause to form crystals.

Common salt is crystalized by the evaporation of sea water.

CRYSTALIZE, verb intransitive To be converted into a crystal; to unite, as the separate particles of a substance, and form a determinate and regular solid.

Each species of salt crystalizes in a peculiar form.

CRYSTALIZED, participle passive Formed into crystals.

CRYSTALIZING, participle present tense Causing to crystalize; forming or uniting in crystals.

CRYSTALLITE, noun A name given to whinstone, cooled slowly after fusion.

CRYSTALOGRAPHER, noun [infra.] One who describes crystals, or the manner of their formation.

CRYSTALOGRAPHIC, CRYSTALOGRAPHICAL, adjective Pertaining to crystalography.

CRYSTALOGRAPHIC, CRYSTALOGRAPHICAL adjective Pertaining to crystalography.

CRYSTALOGRAPHICALLY, adverb IN the manner of crystalography.

CRYSTALOGRAPHY, noun [crystal, as above, and description.]

1. The doctrine or science of crystalization, teaching the principles of the process, and the forms and structure of crystals.

2. A discourse or treatise on crystalization.