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

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

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

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

From Love or Fame; and Other Poems by Sherrick, Fannie Isabel

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 Northern Nut Growers Association Incorporated 39th Annual Report at Norris, Tenn. September 13-15 1948 by Northern Nut Growers Association

Capiant ne xenia, nec se Pollicitis flecti muneribus ve sinant.

From A booke called the Foundacion of Rhetorike because all other partes of Rhetorike are grounded thereupon, euery parte sette forthe in an Oracion vpon questions, verie profitable to bee knowen and redde by Rainolde, Richard