bidens
bidens Lexical Profile
• noun
Any of various annual or perennial herbaceous flowering plants of the genus Bidens in the family Asteraceae, native primarily to the Americas and cultivated as garden ornamentals for their bright yellow, orange, or white daisy-like blossoms and characteristic two-pronged barbed seeds (also called beggar-ticks or bur-marigolds).
"The hanging baskets on the patio were planted with golden bidens that bloomed continuously from spring until the first autumn frost."
An ancient Roman agricultural implement with two heavy iron prongs or teeth, used as a two-pronged hoe or mattock for breaking up hard soil and cultivating vineyards.
"Roman vineyard workers relied on the iron bidens to loosen compact, stony earth around the roots of the grapevines."
In ancient Roman religion, a sheep (or occasionally another sacrificial animal) of about two years of age having two prominent permanent incisor teeth, prized as a victim for ritual sacrifice.
"Before the altar of Jupiter, the priest inspected the fleece and teeth of the bidens to ensure the sacrificial sheep met ritual requirements."
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin bidēns ('having two teeth'), from bi- ('two') and dēns ('tooth'), referring in botany to the two-toothed bristles on the seeds and in classical antiquity to the two prominent front teeth of a two-year-old sacrificial sheep.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.