delphinium

[ del-fin-ee-uhm ]

noun

, plural del·phin·i·ums, del·phin·i·a [del-, fin, -ee-, uh].

1. any of numerous plants of the genus Delphinium, especially any of various tall, cultivated species having usually blue, pink, or white flowers.

delphinium

/ dɛlˈfɪnɪəm /

noun

1. any ranunculaceous plant of the genus Delphinium: many varieties are cultivated as garden plants for their spikes of blue, pink, or white spurred flowers See also larkspur

Word History and Origins

Origin of delphinium¹

1655–65; < New Latin < Greek delphī́nion larkspur, derivative of delphī́s (stem delphīn- ) dolphin; so called from the shape of the nectary

Word History and Origins

Origin of delphinium¹

C17: New Latin, from Greek delphinion larkspur, from delphis dolphin , referring to the shape of the nectary

Example Sentences

The Brooklyn singer-songwriter Cassandra Jenkins delivers “Delphinium Blue,” the second single from her upcoming third album, “My Light, My Destroyer,” with a slow, cleareyed poise.

From New York Times

“I see your eyes in the delphinium, too,” she sings, as beauty blooms all around her.

From New York Times

Only the gardener knows the cutworms are winning, or that those billowing cosmos fill in the bare space where the delphinium died.

From Seattle Times

The lily and the iris have three petals, the pink and the buttercup five, the delphinium eight, the marigold 13, the aster 21 and daisies either 55 or 89.

From Literature

They were out of baby’s breath, but on the floor around them were buckets of thousands of donated blooms — fragrant lilies, roses and carnations, blue delphinium, stalky allium and green bells of Ireland.

From Washington Post