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papilionaceous. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
papilionaceous, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
papilionaceous in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
From New Latin papilionaceus (from Latin pāpiliō (“butterfly”)) + -ous. In scientific sense, after Papilionaceae (family name).
Adjective
papilionaceous (comparative more papilionaceous, superlative most papilionaceous)
- (obsolete) Pertaining to a butterfly or butterflies.
- (botany) Having a corolla in the form of a butterfly, with prominent wing-like petals; (generally) pertaining to the Faboidea (Papilionoidea) family of plants.
1962, JW Goethe, translated by WH Auden and Elizabeth Mayer, Italian Journey, Penguin, published 1970, page 261:[T]he broad road is lined with wild bushes and tangled shrubs lavishly decked with brilliant blossoms: the lentisk, so covered with yellow, papilionaceous flowers [translating Schmetterlingsblumen] that not a green leaf is visible…
- (figurative) Like a butterfly; showy; capricious.
2000 April 3, Evening Standard:Ali G was a glorious, comedic butterfly, but it's my sad duty to report that his exquisitely papilionaceous character is currently being broken upon a wheel.