A Garden of WordsTimes Books, 1992 - 188 pages For language mavens, a lively exploration of the origins and development of 24 flower names, from aster to zinnia. Barnette weaves together the diverse elements that, over the centuries, have formed each word's colorful etymological history. Elegantly designed and illustrated throughout--a charming gift for language buffs and armchair gardeners. |
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Page 63
... once commonly dried and ground to mix with coffee . The dandelion , as one nineteenth - century medical text put it , possesses " unquestionably diuretic powers " -powers that could have untimely effects . In England and parts of the ...
... once commonly dried and ground to mix with coffee . The dandelion , as one nineteenth - century medical text put it , possesses " unquestionably diuretic powers " -powers that could have untimely effects . In England and parts of the ...
Page 127
... once wrote about someone who “ laughed . . . slyly , rubbing her nosewing with a fin- ger . " In anatomical textbooks this structure is called an ala , which means basically the same thing , as it comes from Latin ala , " wing , " the ...
... once wrote about someone who “ laughed . . . slyly , rubbing her nosewing with a fin- ger . " In anatomical textbooks this structure is called an ala , which means basically the same thing , as it comes from Latin ala , " wing , " the ...
Page 130
... once carried a far more vivid sense of " strangling " or " throttling , " before it became di- luted in meaning . ) To turn once again to the nose - twisting nasturtium : The French call this flower a capucine , and the Ital- ians , a ...
... once carried a far more vivid sense of " strangling " or " throttling , " before it became di- luted in meaning . ) To turn once again to the nose - twisting nasturtium : The French call this flower a capucine , and the Ital- ians , a ...
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Common terms and phrases
Akoniti Amaryllis ancient Greek ancient Greek word Anthurium applied aster bird blossom borrowed botanical color columbine comes from Latin crane daisy dandelion denotes derives descendant Dutch English term English word etymological eventually EXORDIUM flea flower name foot form the name French word GARDEN OF WORDS gave rise genus geranium German word gladiolus glish goddess gray Greek myth Hyacinth HYDRANGEA idea Indo-European root inspired the name iris Italian known languages Latin lupus Latin word lily literally means loanword loosestrife loup Lupercalia lupine lussa miterwort modern English nasturtium nicknames nose offspring Old English Old French orchid origin palindrome pansy pearl phrase plant Pliny the Elder poppy Professor Latkovski refers reflected resemble Russian S)PEN Sadako Sasaki Sanskrit scholars shines Similarly someone source of English Spanish star Star jelly stem sword synonym tail testicle thought tulip wolf word for rose Zephyrus