pansy
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See also: Pansy
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle French pensée (“thought”), as the plant resembles someone that is in deep thought, with a lowered head. Doublet of pensée.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
pansy (plural pansies)
- A cultivated flowering plant, derived by hybridization within species Viola tricolor.
- 1697, Virgil, “The Second Pastoral. Or, Alexis.”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 6:
- The Daughters of the Flood have ſearch'd the Mead / For Violets pale, and cropt the Poppy's Head: / The Short Narciſſus and fair Daffodil, / Pancies to pleaſe the Sight, and Caſſia ſvveet to ſmell: […]
- 1920, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “Revelations”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 271:
- Oh, what a perfect thought. Lilies-of-the-valley, and white pansies, double white violets and white velvet ribbon… From an unknown friend. … From one who understands. … For a Little Girl.
- A deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.
- pansy:
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Junonia.
- Synonym: argus
- (derogatory, colloquial) A timid, weak man or boy; a wuss.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:milksop
- (derogatory, colloquial, dated) A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.
- Synonyms: see Thesaurus:male homosexual, Thesaurus:effeminate man
Alternative forms[edit]
- pancy (obsolete)
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
plant
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colour
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informal:coward or weak person
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Adjective[edit]
pansy (not comparable)
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
colour
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Verb[edit]
pansy (third-person singular simple present pansies, present participle pansying, simple past and past participle pansied)
- (slang, intransitive, usually with "around" or "about") To mess about; to fail to get things done.
See also[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- Jonathon Green (2024) “pansy n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang
- Jonathon Green (2024) “pansy adj.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang
Categories:
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)pend-
- English terms derived from Middle French
- English doublets
- English terms with audio links
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/ænzi
- Rhymes:English/ænzi/2 syllables
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with quotations
- English derogatory terms
- English colloquialisms
- English dated terms
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- English verbs
- English slang
- English intransitive verbs
- en:Flowers
- en:Nymphalid butterflies
- en:People
- en:Purples
- en:Violet family plants