jade
nounadjectivenounverbcommon in dialogue
- //d͡ʒeɪd//
A semiprecious stone, either nephrite or jadeite, generally green or white in color, often used for carving figurines.
noun
- 1
A semiprecious stone, either nephrite or jadeite, generally green or white in color, often used for carving figurines.
Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are diamond, ruby and sapphire, emerald and other gem forms of the mineral beryl, chrysoberyl, tanzanite, tsavorite, topaz and jade.
- 2
A bright shade of slightly bluish or greyish green, typical of polished jade stones.
- 3
A succulent plant, Crassula ovata.
Etymology
Borrowed from French le jade, rebracketing of earlier l'éjade (“jade”), from Spanish piedra de ijada (“flank stone”), via Vulgar Latin *iliata from Latin ilia (“flank”). (Jade was thought to cure pains in the side.)
adjective
- 1
Of a grayish shade of green, typical of jade stones.
noun
- 1
A horse too old to be put to work.
Shee hath more qualities then a Water-Spaniell, […] Shee can fetch and carry: why a horſe can doe no more; nay, a horſe cannot fetch, but onely carry, therefore is ſhee better then a Iade.
That Iade hath eate bread from my Royall hand. / This hand hath made him proud with clapping him.
[F]requent jot / Of his hard ſetting jade did ſo confound / The vvords that he by papyr-ſtealth had got, / That their loſt ſenſe the youngſter could not ſound, / Though he vvith mimical attention did abound.
Let that be as it may, as my purpoſe is to do exact juſtice to every creature brought upon the ſtage of this dramatic work,—I could not ſtifle this diſtinction in favour of Don Quixote’s horſe;—in all other points the parſon’s horſe, I ſay, was juſt ſuch another,—for he was as lean, and as lank, and as ſorry a jade, as Humility herſelf could have beſtrided.
- 2
A bad-tempered or disreputable woman.
You alwayes end with a iades tricke, I knowe you of olde.
However, what ſhe withheld from the Infant, ſhe beſtowed with the utmoſt Profuſeneſs on the poor unknown Mother, whom ſhe called an impudent Slut, a wanton Huſſy, an audacious Harlot, a wicked Jade, a vile Strumpet, with every other Appellation with which the Tongue of Virtue never fails to laſh thoſe who bring a Diſgrace on the Sex.
You shall pay me for the plague of having you eternally in my sight—do you hear, damnable jade?
Sir Pitt Crawley was a philosopher with a taste for what is called low life. His first marriage with the daughter of the noble Binkie had been made under the auspices of his parents; and as he often told Lady Crawley in her life-time she was such a confounded quarrelsome high-bred jade that when she died he was hanged if he would ever take another of her sort […]
Etymology
From Middle English jade, chade, either a variant of yaud or merely influenced by it. Yaud derives from Old Norse jalda (“mare”), from a Uralic language, such as Moksha эльде (elde) or Erzya эльде (elde). See yaud for more.
verb
- 1
To fatigue, tire, or weary (someone or something).
[T]he Mind once jaded by an attempt above its Power, it either is diſabl'd for the future, or elſe checks at any vigorous Undertaking ever after, at leaſt is very hardly brought to exert its Force again on any Subject that requires Thought and Meditation.
- 2
obsoleteTo treat (someone or something) like a jade; to spurn.
The nere-yet beaten Horſe of Parthia, / We haue iaded out o'th' Field.
- 3
obsoleteTo make (someone or something) contemptible and ridiculous.
I do not now foole my ſelfe, to let imagination iade mee; for euery reaſon excites to this, that my Lady loues me.
Forms
- plural
- jades
- past tense
- jaded
- past participle
- jaded
- present participle
- jading
- third person singular
- jades
jade · A semiprecious stone, either nephrite or jadeite, generally green or white in color, often used for carving figurines.
Jade · A female given name from English.Jae · A male given name.jaffa · A type of sweet orange, normally seedless.