asphodel

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See also: Asphodel

English

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white asphodel (Asphodelus albus)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀσφόδελος (asphódelos). Doublet of daffodil.

Pronunciation

Noun

asphodel (usually uncountable, plural asphodels)

  1. Any of the flowering plants of the family Asphodelaceae, especially Asphodelus ramosus and Asphodelus albus; the flower of these plants.
    • 1962, Simone de Beauvoir, translated by Peter Green, The Prime of Life, Cleveland, OH: The World Publishing Company, translation of La Force de l'âge, →OCLC, page 77:
      Sometimes I lost track of them and had to hunt round in a circle, thrusting through sharp-scented bushes, scratching myself on various plants which were still new to me: resinaceous rock-roses, juniper, ilex, yellow and white asphodel [translating asphodèles].
  2. (Greek mythology) The flower said to carpet Hades, and a favorite food of the dead.
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. , London: [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker ; nd by Robert Boulter ; nd Matthias Walker, , →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: , London: Basil Montagu Pickering , 1873, →OCLC:
      Her hand he seis'd, and to a shadie bank,
      Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd
      He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch,
      Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel,
      And Hyacinth, Earths freshest softest lap.

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