acanthus
Plural: acanthi, acanthuses
Noun
- any plant of the genus Acanthus having large spiny leaves and spikes or white or purplish flowers; native to Mediterranean region but widely cultivated
- A member of the genus Acanthus of herbaceous prickly plants with toothed leaves, (family Acanthaceae, order Lamiales (formerly Scrophulariales)) found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India.
- An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of Acanthus spinosus, used in the capitals of the Corinthian and composite orders.
- pl. -THI or -THUSES a prickly herb
Origin / Etymology
From Latin acanthus, from Ancient Greek ἄκανθος (ákanthos), from ἀκή (akḗ, “thorn”) + ἄνθος (ánthos, “flower”).
Synonyms
bear's breech, bear's breeches, bear's-breech
Scrabble Score: 13
acanthus: valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordacanthus: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
acanthus: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 15
acanthus is a valid Words With Friends word