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acanthus in British English
(əˈkænθəs) or acanth (əˈkænθ)
nounWord forms: plural -thuses or -thi (-θaɪ)
1.
any shrub or herbaceous plant of the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated as ornamental plants, having large spiny leaves and spikes of white or purplish flowers: family Acanthaceae
See also bear's-breech2.
a carved ornament based on the leaves of the acanthus plant, esp as used on the capital of a Corinthian column
Word origin
C17: New Latin, from Greek akanthos, from akantha thorn, spineacanthus in American English
(əˈkænθəs)
nounWord forms: plural aˈcanthuses or aˈcanˌthi (əˈkænˌθaɪ; əˈkænˌθi)
1.
any of a genus (Acanthus) of thistlelike plants of the acanthus family with lobed, often spiny leaves andlong spikes of white or colored flowers, found in the Mediterranean region
2. Architecture
a motif or conventional representation of the leaf of this plant, used esp. on the capitals of Corinthian columns
adjective
3.
designating a family (Acanthaceae, order Scrophulariales) of dicotyledonous plants, includingbear's-breech
Word origin
ModL < L < Gr akanthos: see acantho-Image ofacanthus
© Shannon Workman, shutterstock
Examples of 'acanthus' in a sentenceacanthus
Word lists withacanthus
architectural features, flower, shrub- speak for something or someone
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- speak of the devil!