cernuous

[ surn-yoo-uhs, sur-noo- ]

adjective

, Botany.

1. drooping, as a flower; nodding.

cernuous

/ ˈsɜːnjʊəs /

adjective

1. botany (of some flowers or buds) drooping

Word History and Origins

Origin of cernuous¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cernuous¹

C17: from Latin cernuus leaning forwards, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

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

From Project Gutenberg

More About Cernuous

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.

Where does cernuous come from?

The first records of the term cernuous come from around the 1640s. It comes from the Latin cernuus, meaning “falling downward,” or “face down.”

Cernuous is sometimes used outside of botany to describe things that droop or hang, such as a person when they are slouching or sad. The term is also sometimes used in architecture or engineering to describe something that is leaning forward in order to achieve a visual or technical benefit.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for cernuous?

• drooping
• nodding

What are some words that often get used in discussing cernuous?

• flower
• fruit
• plant
• rigidity

How is cernuous used in real life?

Cernuous is an uncommon term used mostly by botanists and home gardeners who are very serious about the science and upkeep of their plants.

lamentations are my flesh, oceans of cernuous violets and irises are my heart; in this dream i wade through meadows of asphodel, each of their goblets pouring over with divine milk, each of my ankles wet with the tears of broken stars.

— ✧ noelle (@deuspuella) February 13, 2020

A ripe knot in the gnarled web of the cernuous primordial. Plucked tightly, reverberating like time through great wooded copse.

— Luna Arcana (@lunaarcana1) May 19, 2021

Todays #stickoftheday is a bifurcated, cernuous piece of Tulip Poplar. Leggiadrous and concolor, its appearance was as lovely as its sapor. Nectary and sauveolent and tasting subtly of pear and flowers, a lovely spring refreshment pic.twitter.com/S2srsrFEyh

— Rex the TV Terrier ® (@rexthetvterrier) April 20, 2021

Updated on February 27, 2023

Try using cernuous!

Is cernuous used correctly in the following sentence?

“My garden is full of cernuous plants, all straight and tall.”