asphodel

[as-fuh-del]

noun

1. any of various southern European plants of the genera Asphodelus and Asphodeline, of the lily family, having white, pink, or yellow flowers in elongated clusters.

2. any of various other plants, as the daffodil.

asphodel

/ ˈæsfəˌdɛl /

noun

1. any of various S European liliaceous plants of the genera Asphodelus and Asphodeline, having clusters of white or yellow flowers Compare bog asphodel

2. any of various other plants, such as the daffodil

3. an unidentified flower of Greek legend, probably a narcissus, said to cover the Elysian fields

Word History and Origins

Origin of asphodel¹

1590–1600; < Latin asphodelus < Greek asphódelos the asphodel. See daffodil

Word History and Origins

Origin of asphodel¹

C16: from Latin asphodelus, from Greek asphodelos, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

His research found that lots of wetland species, such as carnivorous sundews and bog asphodel, disappeared after the fires.

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You can even buy seeds of the Western false asphodel in garden stores.

Read more on New York Times

The western false asphodel doesn’t do this; it puts these sticky hairs on the main stem bearing its flowers, which grows up to 80 centimeters tall.

Read more on Science Magazine

Around it are wide wastes, wan and cold, and meadows of asphodel, presumably strange, pallid, ghostly flowers.

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The very plants were unknown to them—pink lousewort with its sprays of hooked flowers, bog asphodel and the thin-stemmed blooms of the sundews, rising above their hairy, fly-catching mouths, all shut fast by night.

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