Word Study
Cruciferous
CIDE DICTIONARY
Cruciferous, a. [L. crux, crucis, cross + -ferous: cf. F. crucif.].
- Bearing a cross. [1913 Webster]
- Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants which have four petals arranged like the arms of a cross, as the mustard, radish, turnip, etc. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Cruciferous, adj. Bot. of the family Cruciferae, having flowers with four petals arranged in a cross.
Etymology
LL crucifer (as CRUCIAL, -FEROUS)
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