hyacinthus
hyacinthus Lexical Profile
• noun
A small genus of bulbous perennial flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, native to the eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia, cultivated for their dense, upright spikes of intensely fragrant, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink, white, and yellow.
In Greek mythology, a handsome Spartan prince and lover of the god Apollo who was accidentally struck and killed by a flying discus, and from whose spilled blood Apollo created the hyacinth flower.
"Ovid recounts the tragic death of Hyacinthus and his transformation into a vibrant purple blossom."
• Rhymes for hyacinthus
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin Hyacinthus, from Ancient Greek Hyakinthos, the mythological Spartan youth loved by Apollo whose blood sprouted into a springtime flower after he was accidentally killed by a discus.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.