celandine

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun North American annual plant with usually yellow or orange flowers; grows chiefly on wet rather acid soil
  2. noun perennial herb with branched woody stock and bright yellow flowers

Etymology

From Middle English celidoine, Old French celidoine, French chélidoine, from Latin chelīdonia, from chelīdonius (“relating to the swallow”), from Ancient Greek χελιδόνιος (khelidónios), χελιδών (khelidṓn). It was traditionally supposed to flower when the swallows appeared, and to perish when they departed.

In classic literature

Synonyms

jewelweed, lady's earrings, orange balsam, touch-me-not, Impatiens capensis

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading