pansy

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“
Whether it's known as a pansy, viola or even violetta, flowering plants in the Viola genus are classic cool-season annuals; plants that can tolerate light frosts and continue blooming until summertime heat draws the curtain on their charming springtime show.

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Definitions (9)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. noun Any of various plants of the genera Achimenes or Viola, especially V. tricolor or its hybrids, having flowers with velvety petals of various colors.
  2. noun A deep to strong violet.
  3. noun Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for a man or boy who is considered effeminate.
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Examples (50)

  • No? So I think the pansy is writing a book he has a green fountain pen and green ink but I couldnt see what it was. —  The Complete Stories of Evelyn Waugh
  • Turns out Indiana's too flat, Chicago's too cold, LA's too smoggy … Seattle's aaaalmost perfect (a little on the damp side, but I try to keep my mouth shut about that to avoid being called a pansy … AND I knew what I was getting into). —  Sub Pop Records, The Big Bag of Beans
  • Whether it's known as a pansy, viola or even violetta, flowering plants in the Viola genus are classic cool-season annuals; plants that can tolerate light frosts and continue blooming until summertime heat draws the curtain on their charming springtime show. —  DailyHerald.com > News
  • Your decision to portray me as the worst kind of pansy-God liberal is inaccurate. ms on 26 Jan 2009 at 8: 53 pm JB jbcombox@gmail. com says:
  • Carpeted with short spiky grass the colour of emeralds and flecked with the odd wild pansy, these are small hills rather than large dunes and it was just as well I happened across a local farmer who was able to show me my way or I could still be there today. —  Travel news, travel guides and reviews | guardian.co.uk
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English pancy, from Old French pensee, thought, remembrance, pansy, from feminine past participle of penser, to think; see pensive.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Formerly also pansie, paunsie (dial. Also formerly pance,paunce); from Old French pensee, French pensée (later New Greek πενσές), pansy, heart's-ease, literally ‘thought’ (remembrance), from penser (past participle feminine pensée), think: see Pensive.
 

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/ˈpænzi/
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