ringent

[ rin-juhnt ]

adjective

1. gaping.
2. Botany. having widely spread lips, as some corollas.

ringent

/ ˈrɪndʒənt /

adjective

1. (of the corolla of plants such as the snapdragon) consisting of two distinct gaping lips

Word History and Origins

Origin of ringent¹

1750–60; < Latin ringent- (stem of ringēns, present participle of ringī to gape), equivalent to ring- open the mouth + -ent- -ent; rictus

Word History and Origins

Origin of ringent¹

C18: from Latin ringī to open the mouth wide

Example Sentences

Corolla tubular, more or less 2-lipped, ringent, persistent and withering; upper lip entire or 2-lobed, the lower 3-lobed.

From Project Gutenberg

Corolla deeply 2-lipped, ringent; upper lip straight or scythe-shaped, entire or barely notched, the lower spreading or pendent, 3-lobed, its middle lobe larger.

From Project Gutenberg

Perianth somewhat ringent, oblique on the ovary; the sepals and petals all narrow, mostly erect or connivent, the three upper pieces sticking together more or less, the two lower covering the base of the lip.

From Project Gutenberg

Perianth somewhat ringent, oblique and gibbous or obscurely spurred at base; the oblong or lanceolate sepals and petals nearly alike, 1–3-nerved, the upper arching; the lateral sepals ascending, their bases with that of the lip forming the gibbosity or short spur which is mostly adnate to the summit of the ovary; lip slightly adherent to the base of the 2-edged straightish column, bearing a pair of projecting ridges on the face below, spreading or recurved at the apex.

From Project Gutenberg

Flower ringent; the lanceolate sepals and petals nearly alike, united at base, ascending and arching over the column.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accessible
• clear
• free
• susceptible
• wide