Literary notes about crystal (AI summary)
Literary authors frequently employ “crystal” as a color adjective to evoke an image of flawless clarity and luminous purity. In this usage, the term conveys not only transparency but also a sparkling, almost jewel-like quality in the natural world. For example, the phrase “crystal waters” [1] or “crystal‐clear water” [2] transforms a simple setting into one imbued with freshness and immaculate light, suggesting a quality of purity that transcends mere physical appearance. Similarly, expressions like “clear as crystal” [3] and “pure as crystal” [4] use the adjective to paint vivid pictures of an environment washed in brilliant, untainted hues, demonstrating how “crystal” serves as a powerful metaphor for both clarity and beauty in literary description.
- But what delighted him most was the river Psiol with its refreshing crystal waters.
— from The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky by Modest Chaikovskii - We swam in the crystal-clear water, despite the natives' warnings about sharks.
— from Through the South Seas with Jack London by Martin Johnson - Clear as crystal, the beam from the lighthouse under the cliffs struck rhythmically on the night.
— from England, My England by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence - The water is as pure as crystal and deep as a well.
— from Plain Tales of the North by Thierry Mallet
