cernuous

American  

[surn-yoo-uhs, sur-noo-] / ˈsɜrn yu əs, ˈsɜr nu- /

adjective

Botany.

1. drooping, as a flower; nodding.

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cernuous British  

/ ˈsɜːnjʊəs /

adjective

1. botany (of some flowers or buds) drooping

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Usage

What does cernuous mean? Cernuous means drooping or nodding, as with the flower on a plant.In botany, cernuous describes a plant or flower that is drooping or nodding. Some plants, like the bleeding heart, are naturally cernuous. The bleeding heart hangs by its own weight and grows healthily as a result. Other plants, like hyacinths, are meant to grow straight up. If hyacinths become cernuous, they are wilting or dying.Example: Your persimmons are cernuous because they are not getting enough water.

Etymology

Origin of cernuous

1645–55; < Latin cernuus falling forwards, face down; -ous

Example Sentences

Then “palama,” “cernuous” and “odylic,” and soon eight young prodigies hoisted aloft the ceramic trophy, each named champion when none could be eliminated.

From Los Angeles Times

They deserve for us to marvel at how they were able to spell “cernuous,” “odylic” and “erysipelas,” while people in Hawaii were looking up how to spell “Hawaii.”

From Washington Post

The stipe is usually white above, fuscous below, at the apex almost evanescent; hence the cernuous sporangia.

From Project Gutenberg

Sporangium depressed-globose, umbilicate at the apex, stipitate, cernuous, purplish-brown in color; the calyculus granulose within, occupying from one-fourth to one-third of the sporangium, the ribs united by firm, persistent fibers.

From Project Gutenberg

Sporangium large, depressed-globose, the apex umbilicate, stipitate, cernuous, dark purple in color; calyculus usually wholly wanting, the ribs united by weak fibers, which are easily torn asunder, allowing the ribs to curl up inwards.

From Project Gutenberg