acanthus

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“
All about the cup is spread the soft acanthus, a miracle of varied work, {6} a thing for thee to marvel on.

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Definitions (5)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun Any of various perennial herbs or small shrubs of the genus Acanthus, native to the Mediterranean and having pinnately lobed basal leaves with spiny margins and showy spikes of white or purplish flowers. Also called bear's breech.
  2. noun Architecture A design patterned after the leaves of one of these plants, used especially on the capitals of Corinthian columns.

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Examples (50)

  • The dark blue Brussels carpet with its pattern of roses and acanthus was smooth, undisturbed, and scrupulously clean. —  EQMM, Sep - Oct 2006
  • The carved acanthus-leaves in the capitals of the pillars droop like bunches of palms reddened by the summer. —  Saint Augustin
  • One of the more popular designs is the acanthus, patterned after a thistle found in southern Europe. —  The Albert Lea Tribune
  • He came from Norway when he was 19, and he carved mostly figures and some acanthus (a floral style). —  Minot Daily News
  • Lusk says acanthus is based on a plant from Italy and the Mediterranean area, and became popular after dragon style lost favor because of its religious ties. —  Minot Daily News
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Etymologies (1)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. New Latin Acanthus, genus name, from Greek akanthos, thorn plant, from akantha, thorn.
 

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