love-in-a-mist

American  

[luhv-in-uh-mist] / ˈlʌv ɪn əˈmɪst /

noun

1. a plant, Nigella damascena, of the buttercup family, having feathery dissected leaves and whitish or blue flowers.

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love-in-a-mist British  

noun

1. an erect S European ranunculaceous plant, Nigella damascena, cultivated as a garden plant, having finely cut leaves and white or pale blue flowers See also fennelflower

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Etymology

Origin of love-in-a-mist

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

Hardy annuals, such as poppies, larkspur, love-in-a-mist and bachelor buttons, benefit from a winter chill and bloom earlier than a spring sowing.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 25, 2023

Little manila coin envelopes filled with seeds of a dark purple poppy, cobalt blue love-in-a-mist, fragrant sweet peas, ruby orach, rusty foxglove — and yes, Miss Willmott’s “ghost” — make up my garden’s currency.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 29, 2022

Annuals, like larkspur, love-in-a-mist, calendula and various poppies, flower and seed generously.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 12, 2022

And phlox—Sally, you must have masses of phlox—and candy-tuft, and mignonette, and sweet alyssum—" "And love-in-a-mist, and forget-me-nots, and sweet peas, and hollyhocks.

From Strawberry Acres by Richmond, Grace S. (Grace Smith)

"If he gets well—quite, quite well"—she said, lifting her splendid dark eyes to Morgana's blue as "love-in-a-mist" "I will go away and give him to you!"

From The Secret Power by Corelli, Marie