asphodel

[ as-fuh-del ]

/ ˈæs fəˌdɛl /

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noun

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.

any of various other plants, as the daffodil.

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Origin of asphodel

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

Words nearby asphodel

asphalt paper, asphalt rock, asphaltum, aspherical, aspherical surface, asphodel, asphyxia, asphyxia livida, asphyxia neonatorum, asphyxiant, asphyxiate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use asphodel in a sentence

Doubtless the dispute is still being carried on between these chieftains from their beds of asphodel and moly in Elysium.
The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce|Ambrose Bierce
The asphodel was a favourite plant among the ancients, who were in the habit of planting it round their tombs.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2|Various
They know not how much more the half is than the whole, nor what great advantage there is in mallow and asphodel 1301.
Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns, and Homerica|Homer and Hesiod
As she rose and stretched forth her slender hand, he gave her the asphodel cluster, but was careful not to touch her fingers.
Delusion and Dream|Wilhelm Jensen

With the promise to be at the same place again on the morrow, she takes leave of him, after she has obtained the asphodel cluster.
Delusion and Dream|Wilhelm Jensen

British Dictionary definitions for asphodel

asphodel

/ (ˈæsfəˌdɛl) /

noun

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

any of various other plants, such as the daffodil

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

Word Origin for asphodel

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012