acanthus
acanthus Lexical Profile
• noun
Any of various herbaceous perennial flowering plants of the genus Acanthus (family Acanthaceae), native primarily to the Mediterranean region and tropical Asia, characterized by large, deeply lobed, often spiny leaves and tall, erect spikes of white, pink, or purplish flowers subtended by prickly bracts.
"Tall spikes of purple-and-white acanthus blossoms rose above the glossy, deeply cut foliage in the sunny border."
A conventionalized architectural ornament modeled on the deeply scalloped leaves of the Mediterranean acanthus plant, characteristically carved onto the capitals of Corinthian and Composite columns.
"The marble Corinthian capitals of the temple were richly carved with rows of stylized acanthus."
• Rhymes for acanthus
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin acanthus, from Ancient Greek akanthos ('bear's-breech'), derived from akantha ('thorn, prickle'), ultimately from the root ak- ('sharp, pointed'), referring to the plant's spiny leaves and floral bracts.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.