aspidistra

[ as-pi-dis-truh ]

noun

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Aspidistra, of the lily family, native to eastern Asia, especially A. eliator, having large evergreen leaves often striped with white, and grown as a houseplant.

aspidistra

/ ˌæspɪˈdɪstrə /

noun

1. any Asian plant of the liliaceous genus Aspidistra , esp A. lurida, a popular house plant with long tough evergreen leaves and purplish flowers borne on the ground

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspidistra¹

1815–25; < New Latin, equivalent to aspid- (< Greek: stem of aspís shield) + -istra, extracted from Tupistra genus of liliaceous plants < Greek typís mallet + Latin -tra plural of -trum noun suffix denoting instrument

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspidistra¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek aspis shield, on the model of Tupistra genus of liliaceous plants

Example Sentences

The open inner door showed a bright linoleum on the floor, and the end of a brown side-board on which stood an aspidistra.

From Project Gutenberg

An aspidistra (please note spelling) is the best plant there is for roughing it.

From Project Gutenberg

The modesty of the violet is nowhere when compared with the aspidistra!

From Project Gutenberg