xenia

¹ American  

[zee-nee-uh, zeen-yuh] / ˈzi ni ə, ˈzin yə /

noun

Botany.

1. the influence or effect of pollen on a structure other than the embryo, as the seed or fruit.

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Xenia ² American  

[zee-nee-uh, zeen-yuh] / ˈzi ni ə, ˈzin yə /

noun

1. a city in W Ohio.

2. a female given name.

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xenia British  

/ ˈziːnɪə /

noun

1. botany the influence of pollen upon the form of the fruit developing after pollination

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Other Word Forms

• xenial adjective

Etymology

Origin of xenia

First recorded in 1895–1900; from New Latin from Greek xenía “hospitality”; xen-, -ia

Example Sentences

Though it falls into a fairly common category of images of food called “xenia” — offerings for guests — it is not like most of the roughly 300 examples that have been found in Vesuvian cities.

From New York Times

We fancied that we could detect bitternut flavor in good shagbarks about the plantings, due to xenia influence, as in the case of chestnuts.

From Project Gutenberg

This is why artists called pictures representing the things which were sent to guests "xenia."

From Project Gutenberg

Sweet golden-rod and xenia   And crimson marigold, What dreams of autumn splendor   Your velvet leaves unfold.

From Project Gutenberg