primrose

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: Prim=rose

CIDE DICTIONARY

primrose, n. [OE. primerole, F. primerole, a derivative fr. LL. primula, from L. primus first. See Prime, a.].

 An early flowering plant of the genus Primula (Primula vulgaris) closely allied to the cowslip. There are several varieties, as the white-, the red-, the yellow-flowered, etc. Formerly called also primerole, primerolles.  [1913 Webster]

Evening primrose, an erect biennial herb (Enothera biennis), with yellow vespertine flowers, common in the United States. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus. -- Primrose peerless, the two-flowered Narcissus (Narcissus biflorus). [Obs.]

primrose, a. 

 Of or pertaining to the primrose; of the color of a primrose; -- hence, flowery; gay.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

primrose, n.
1 a any plant of the genus Primula, esp. P. vulgaris, bearing pale yellow flowers. b the flower of this.
2 a pale yellow colour.

Idiom

primrose path the pursuit of pleasure, esp. with disastrous consequences (with ref. to Shakesp. Hamlet I. iii. 50).

Etymology

ME primerose, corresp. to OF primerose and med.L prima rosa, lit. first rose: reason for the name unkn.

THESAURUS

primrose

aureate, auric, beige, buff, buff-yellow, canary, canary-yellow, choice, citron, citron-yellow, coral, cream, creamy, ecru, elite, fallow, fat, flaxen, flower, gilded, gilt, gold, gold-colored, golden, incarnadine, lemon, lemon-yellow, luteolous, lutescent, ocherish, ocherous, ochery, ochreous, ochroid, ochrous, ochry, or, pick, pink, pinkish, pinky, prime, primrose-colored, primrose-yellow, prize, rose, rose-colored, rose-hued, rose-red, roseate, rosy, saffron, saffron-colored, saffron-yellow, sallow, salmon, sand-colored, sandy, straw, straw-colored, top, xanthic, xanthous, yellow, yellowish