lupine

¹

[loo-pin]

noun

1. any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Lupinus, of the legume family, as L. albus white lupine, of Europe, bearing edible seeds, or L. perennis, of the eastern U.S., having tall, dense clusters of blue, pink, or white flowers.

lupine

²

[loo-pahyn]

adjective

1. pertaining to or resembling the wolf.

2. related to the wolf.

3. savage; ravenous; predatory.

lupine

/ ˈluːpaɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a wolf

lupine

1. Characteristic of or resembling wolves.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lupine¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lupīnus, lupīnum, apparently noun use of lupīnus lupine ²; compare German wolfsbohne lupine, literally, wolf bean

Origin of lupine²

1650–60; < Latin lupīnus of a wolf, equivalent to lup ( us ) wolf + -īnus -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lupine¹

C17: from Latin lupīnus, from lupus wolf

Example Sentences

At this point, you’ll mostly lose the ocean view but be greeted by a diversity of local plants, including wildflowers like spreading phlox, and varieties of poppies, lupines and paintbrushes.

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Purple lupine and other wildflowers may show up too.

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Then one day, hiking in the wild lands around their home, Margaret realized that the hills were covered with fragrant, beautifully blooming plants like lupine and sages.

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Traditional European breweries — like those run by Belgian monks hewing to centuries-old methods — retain the fruity signature of yeast in its untamed, lupine form, he said.

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“It is such a magical walk to the front door,” Cordeal says of the lupine, poppies, penstemon and sage blooming on either side of the stairs up to the house.

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