Editing Lapidary (section)

==Etymology==
[[File:Titlepage; The Expert Lapidary Wellcome L0064654.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|alt=The title page of an old book. It reads, "The Expert Lapidary, Or A Physical Treatise Of The Secret Vertues [sic] Of Stones".|A 17th century English lapidary text]]

The etymological root of the word ''lapidary'' is the Latin word {{lang|la|lapis}}, meaning "stone".<ref name=harperetym>Douglas Harper (2014), [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=lapidary Lapidary], Online Etymology Dictionary</ref> In the 14th century, the term evolved from {{lang|la|lapidarius}}, meaning 'stonecutter' or 'working with stone', into the [[Old French]] word {{lang|fro|lapidaire}}, meaning 'one skilled in working with precious stones'.<ref name=harperetym/>

In [[French language|French]], and later [[English language|English]], the term is also used for a [[lapidary (text)|lapidary text]], which was a treatise on precious stones that details their appearance, formation, and properties - particularly in terms of the powers believed to be held by some stones - as believed in medieval Europe. The beliefs about the powers of stones included their ability to prevent harm, heal ailments, or offer health benefits.<ref>{{cite book |author=William W. Kibler |title=Medieval France: An Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MQoKeohhNkMC&pg=PA990 |year=1995 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-8240-4444-2 |pages=990–991 }}</ref> ''Lapidary'' appeared as an English adjective in the 18th century.<ref name=harperetym/>