| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| rose1 |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |  r z |
| NOUN: | 1. A member of the rose family. 2a. Any of numerous shrubs or vines of the genus Rosa, having prickly stems, pinnately compound leaves, and variously colored, often fragrant flowers. b. The flower of any of these plants. c. Any of various similar or related plants. 3. A dark pink to moderate red. 4. An ornament, such as a decorative knot, resembling a rose in form; a rosette. 5. A perforated nozzle for spraying water from a hose or sprinkling can. 6a. A form of gem cut marked by a flat base and a faceted, hemispheric upper surface. b. A gem, especially a diamond, cut in this manner. 7. A rose window. 8. A compass card or its representation, as on a map. 9. roses That which is marked by favor, success, or ease of execution: Directing this play has been all roses since the new producer took over. | | ADJECTIVE: | 1. Of the color rose. 2. Relating to, containing, or used for roses. 3. Scented or flavored with or as if with roses. | | IDIOMS: | come up roses To result favorably or successfully: Those were difficult times but now everything's coming up roses. under the rose Sub rosa. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old English, from Latin rosa. | | WORD HISTORY: | It is etymologically correct to drink a julep while watching the Run for the Roses. The English word rose comes from Latin and Old French. Latin rosa may be an Etruscan form of Greek Rhodia, “Rhodian, originating from Rhodes.” The Attic Greek word for rose is rhodon, and in Sappho's Aeolic dialect of Greek it is wrodon. In Avestan, the language of the Persian prophet Zoroaster, “rose” is var da and in Armenian vard, words both related to the Aeolic form. The Modern Persian word for “rose” is gul (which, believe it or not, is descended from a form quite similar to varda through a series of regular sound changes); and gul- b is “rose-water.” Gulb is also a drink made of water and honey or syrup. The name of this Persian treat was borrowed into Arabic as julb and then, through Spanish and French, became julep in English, the ambrosia for sipping on Derby Day.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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