columbine
columbine Lexical Profile
columbine Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various plants of the buttercup family in the genus Aquilegia, native to the Northern Hemisphere, known for their distinctive, bell-shaped flowers with backward-projecting spurs.
"She planted a row of blue and white columbines to attract hummingbirds to her garden."
A traditional stock character in the Italian commedia dell'arte, typically portrayed as a clever, flirtatious maidservant who is often the romantic interest of Harlequin.
"In the classical play, Columbine outsmarts her elderly master to help the young lovers elope."
• adjective
Of, relating to, or resembling a dove; exceptionally gentle or peaceful.
"The poet described her gentle, columbine nature as a stark contrast to the aggressive courtiers around her."
Word Nuance & Usage
While the flower is written in lowercase, the word is strictly capitalized ('Columbine') when referring to the stock theater character or the tragic 1999 high school shooting in Colorado.
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'columbyn', via Latin 'columbinus' (dove-like), derived from 'columba' (dove). The plant was named because its inverted flower petals resemble a cluster of five doves huddled together.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.