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

My L. has seen a polyanthus blow in December?—Some friendly wall has sheltered it from the biting wind—no planetary influence shall reach us, but that which presides and cherishes the sweetest flowers.

From Henry Esmond; The English Humourists; The Four Georges by Saintsbury, George

Stocks, red-hot-pokers, larkspur, polyanthus, peonies and dahlias caught the eye which was lured back to the humbler beauties of mignonette, forget-me-not, love-in-idleness, and a generous profusion of roses.

From The Soul of Susan Yellam by Vachell, Horace Annesley

Honora had the breakfast table covered with flowers, primroses, violets, polyanthus, and laurustinus, and some of Sophy's own snowdrops, double and single, which obligingly lingered on purpose to celebrate the day.

From The Life and Letters of Maria Edgeworth, Volume 2 by Hare, Augustus J. C.

"Here, child," she said,   "My mistress sends you this, A bag of silks—   A flow'r not work'd amiss— A polyanthus bright,   And wondrous gay; You'll copy it by noon,   She bade me say."

From Cole's Funny Picture Book No. 1 by Cole, E. W. (Edward William)

Here the first bluebell, and, of livelier hue, The daffodil and polyanthus grew.

From The Poetical Works of William Lisle Bowles Vol. 2 by Gilfillan, George

Put thick slices of turnip near your auriculas, favorite primroses and polyanthuses, and Christmas roses, and near anything tender and not well established, and overhaul them early in the morning.

From Last Words A Final Collection of Stories by Murphy, Hermann Dudley

Such spring-flowering perennials as the white arabis, herbaceous candytufts, aubretias, primulas, and polyanthuses, should now be placed in situations where it is desired for them to flower.

From Little Folks (November 1884) A Magazine for the Young by Various

Plant tulip and other flower roots, slip polyanthuses, and place them in rich shady borders.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Eaton, Mary, fl. 1823-1849

She went nimbly round and round the beds of anemones, tulips, jonquils, polyanthuses, and other old-fashioned flowers, looking a very charming figure in her half-mourning bonnet, and with an incomplete nosegay in her left hand. 

From Wessex Tales by Hardy, Thomas

Put thick slices of turnip near your auriculas, favourite primroses and polyanthuses, and Christmas roses, and near anything tender and not well established, and overhaul them early in the morning.

From Mary's Meadow And Other Tales of Fields and Flowers by Ewing, Juliana Horatia Gatty