polyanthus

American  

[pol-ee-an-thuhs] / ˌpɒl iˈæn θəs /

noun

polyanthuses plural

1. a hybrid primrose, Primula polyantha.

2. Also called polyanthus narcissus.  a narcissus, Narcissus tazetta, having small white or yellow flowers.

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polyanthus British  

/ ˌpɒlɪˈænθəs /

noun

1. any of several hybrid garden primroses, esp Primula polyantha, which has brightly coloured flowers

2. a Eurasian amaryllidaceous plant, Narcissus tazetta, having clusters of small yellow or white fragrant flowers

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• polyanthuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of polyanthus

1620–30; < New Latin < Greek polýanthos having many flowers. See poly-, -anthous

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

polyanthus polyanthuses

As to my private cabinet, let it be colored light blue, with a border of ranunculus and polyanthus.

From Josephine Makers of History by Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot)

Nevertheless it presented a gay and flourishing appearance with its masses of polyanthus in full bloom, its tulips, and Turk’s head lilies, and lilac bushes.

From White Lilac; or the Queen of the May by Walton, Amy

And the little bushes of polyanthus gemmed the dark earth between with their varied hues.

From Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood by MacDonald, George

Hyacinths, narcissus, wallflowers, polyanthus, they continued to be held up for her inspection.

From Fated to Be Free by Ingelow, Jean

I saw the beds fringed with purple polyanthus, and the daffodils in the dewy grass.

From Father Payne by Benson, Arthur Christopher

Those that flower newly are nigella, zinnias, polyanthuses, love-apples, mignonette, capsicums, Michaelmas daisies, auriculus, asters or stars, and China-asters.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 267, August 4, 1827 by Various

He also trifled with horticulture, dabbled in tulips, was a connoisseur in pinks, and had gained a prize for polyanthuses.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 288, Supplementary Number by Various

Primroses, violets, lilies of the valley, and polyanthuses enriched such shady spots, as, for want of sun, were not well calculated for the production of other flowers.

From A Description of Millenium Hall And the Country Adjacent Together with the Characters of the Inhabitants and Such Historical Anecdotes and Reflections As May Excite in the Reader Proper Sentiments of Humanity, and Lead the Mind to the Love of Virtue by Scott, Sarah

As an instance of this, he remembered declaring that he could "produce variously coloured polyanthuses and primroses by watering them with certain coloured fluids," though he knew all the time it was untrue.

From Alfred Russel Wallace: Letters and Reminiscences, Vol. 1 by Marchant, James

Sneyd asked if there was nothing for him? so I very generously gave him the polyanthuses and planted them with my own hands at the corners of his garden pincushions.

From The Life and Letters of Maria Edgeworth, Volume 1 by Hare, Augustus J. C.