amaranth

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: am=a=ranth

CIDE DICTIONARY

amaranth, n. [L. amarantus, Gr. , unfading, amaranth; 'a priv. + to quench, cause to wither, fr. a root meaning to die, akin to E. mortal; -- so called because its flowers do not soon wither: cf. F. amarante. The spelling with th seems to be due to confusion with Gr. flower.].

•  An imaginary flower supposed never to fade.  [1913 Webster]
•  A genus of ornamental annual plants (Amaranthus) of many species, with green, purplish, or crimson flowers.  [1913 Webster]
•  A color inclining to purple.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

amaranth, n.
1 any plant of the genus Amaranthus, usu. having small green, red, or purple tinted flowers, e.g. prince's feather and pigweed.
2 an imaginary flower that never fades.
3 a purple colour.

Derivative

amaranthine adj.

Etymology

F amarante or mod.L amaranthus f. L f. Gk amarantos everlasting f. a- not + maraino wither, alt. after polyanthus etc.