lily
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See also: Lily
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English lilie, from Old English lilie, from Latin līlia, plural of līlium, from Ancient Greek λείριον (leírion), from Fayyumic Coptic ϩⲗⲏⲣⲓ (hlēri) (compare Sahidic Coptic ϩⲣⲏⲣⲉ (hrēre)), from Demotic
(ḥrry, “flower”), from Egyptian
(ḥrrt, “flower”), which is perhaps also the root of Sanskrit हली (halī), हलिनी (halinī, “lily”).

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Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
lily (plural lilies)

A floral arrangement containing white lilies in Wesley Methodist Church, Singapore
- Any of several flowers in the genus Lilium of the family Liliaceae, which includes a great many ornamental species.
- Any of several species of herbaceous flower which may or may not resemble the genus Lilium in some way, and which are not closely related to it or each other.
- (heraldry) The flower used as a heraldic charge; also commonly used to describe the fleur-de-lis.
- The end of a compass needle that should point north, traditionally often ornamented with the figure of a lily or fleur-de-lis.
- 1646, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica:
- But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west.
- (card games, usually in the plural) A royal spade in auction bridge.
- (cartomancy) The thirtieth Lenormand card, representing calmness and maturity.
Alternative forms[edit]
- lilly (obsolete)
Derived terms[edit]
Derived terms
Translations[edit]
flower in the genus Lilium
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Adjective[edit]
lily (not comparable)
- (slang, derogatory) White (as a racial epithet).
- 1994, Colleen Faulkner, Captive:
- "Can't you see I'm trying to save your lily ass?" "I don't want to be saved," Tess moaned as he hauled her up and into his lap with one beefy hand.
Anagrams[edit]
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English terms derived from Fayyumic Coptic
- English terms derived from Demotic
- English terms derived from Egyptian
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɪli
- Rhymes:English/ɪli/2 syllables
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Heraldic charges
- English terms with quotations
- en:Card games
- en:Cartomancy
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- English slang
- English derogatory terms
- en:Flowers
- en:Lily family plants