daphne
daphne Lexical Profile
daphne Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various Eurasian and North African shrubs of the genus Daphne (family Thymelaeaceae), cultivated for their clusters of intensely fragrant, four-lobed tubular blossoms in shades of pink, white, or purple, and bearing poisonous berries.
"The winter daphne near the garden gate fills the chilly February air with its sweet, heady scent."
In Greek mythology, a naiad or mountain nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape the amorous pursuit of the god Apollo (typically capitalized).
"Bernini's famous marble sculpture captures the exact moment Daphne begins turning into a laurel tree."
• Rhymes for daphne
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek daphnē ('laurel' or 'bay tree'); in classical mythology, the nymph Daphne was transformed into a laurel tree to escape the pursuit of the god Apollo.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.