impatiens
impatiens Lexical Profile
impatiens Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of numerous widely cultivated flowering plants of the genus Impatiens, native to tropical and temperate regions, characterized by brightly colored blossoms and seed capsules that burst open elastically when touched.
"She decided to plant a border of pink and white impatiens in the shaded areas of her garden because they thrive away from direct sunlight."
Word Nuance & Usage
The noun 'impatiens' is singular despite ending in '-s' and remains unchanged in the plural form, which often confuses English speakers who mistakenly assume it is strictly a plural word.
• Rhymes for impatiens
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'impatiens' (meaning 'impatient'). The plant was given this botanical name because its ripe seed pods are highly sensitive to touch and 'impatiently' burst open elastically to scatter their seeds.