avens

[ av-inz ]

noun

, plural av·ens.

1. any of various plants of the genus Geum, of the rose family, having yellow, white, or red flowers.

avens

/ ˈævɪnz /

noun

1. any of several temperate or arctic rosaceous plants of the genus Geum, such as G. rivale ( water avens ), which has a purple calyx and orange-pink flowers See also herb bennet
2. mountain avens
   either of two trailing evergreen white-flowered rosaceous shrubs of the genus Dryas that grow on mountains in N temperate regions and in the Arctic

Word History and Origins

Origin of avens¹

1200–50; Middle English avence < Old French < Medieval Latin avencia kind of clover

Word History and Origins

Origin of avens¹

C15: from Old French avence, from Medieval Latin avencia variety of clover

Example Sentences

Flowers still clung to many of these stalks—yellow avens, alpine gentians, blue polemonium, and purple primrose.

From Project Gutenberg

Herbaceous vegetation consists largely of muhly grass, geum, and avens.

From Project Gutenberg

It is soon followed by the wild parsley, Nuttall's or yellow violet, and the vivid plumes of the purple avens.

From Project Gutenberg

The mountain avens, Dryas octopetala, belongs to the same nat.

From Project Gutenberg

The Common Avens grows abundantly all summer in woods and on shady hedge-banks, but it is not very attractive.

From Project Gutenberg