Veronica

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ve=ron=i=ca

CIDE DICTIONARY

Veronica, n. [LL.; -- so called from Veronica, a woman who, according to an old legend, as Christ was carrying the cross, wiped his face with a cloth, which received an impression of his countenance; Veronica is fr. MGr. Beroni`kh, fr. Macedonian Bereni`kh, for Gr. Fereni`kh, literally, carrying off victory, victorious.].

•  A portrait or representation of the face of our Savior on the alleged handkerchief of Saint Veronica, preserved at Rome; hence, a representation of this portrait, or any similar representation of the face of the Savior. Formerly called also Vernacle, and Vernicle.  [1913 Webster]
•  A genus of scrophulariaceous plants; the speedwell. See Speedwell.  [1913 Webster]

  " Several herbaceous species are common in both Europe and America, most of which have small blue flowers. A few shrubby species from New Zealand are sometimes found in cultivation."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Veronica, n.
1 any plant of the genus Veronica or Hebe, esp. speedwell.
2 a a cloth supposedly impressed with an image of Christ's face. b any similar picture of Christ's face.
3 Bullfighting the movement of a matador's cape away from a charging bull.

Etymology

med.L f. the name Veronica: in sense 2 from the association with St Veronica

ROGET THESAURUS

Veronica

Spell

N spell, charm, incantation, exorcism, weird, cabala, exsufflation, cantrap, runes, abracadabra, open sesame, countercharm, Ephesian letters, bell book and candle, Mumbo Jumbo, evil eye, fee-faw- fum, talisman, amulet, periapt, telesm, phylactery, philter, fetich, fetish, agnus Dei, lamb of God, furcula, madstone, mascot, mascotte, merrythought, Om, Aum, scarab, scarabaeus, sudarium, triskelion, veronica, wishbone, swastika, fylfot, gammadion, wand, caduceus, rod, divining rod, lamp of Aladdin, wishing-cap, Fortunatus's cap.