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saponaria

/ ˌsæpəˈnɛərɪə /

noun

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of saponaria1

New Latin, from Late Latin saponarius soapy
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Example Sentences

Saponaria officinalis is native to Eurasia, but it has done very well for itself in North America.

The scientific name Saponaria derives from the Latin for soap; indeed, soapwort can be boiled to make a mild detergent, and has historically been used as a rinse, a treatment for raw wool, and even as a very mild textile cleanser in the museum industry.

But perhaps Saponaria’s most interesting use is as a mild shampoo, and though it is not nearly as fragrant as the flowers, simply boiling the plant’s leaves and flowers is enough to make a soapy, pleasant rinse.

Though the flowers are somewhat fragrant throughout the day, Saponaria pulls out the stops at dusk.

The Lebanese meringuelike dessert natef is made with saponaria officinalis, a saponin-rich root that is used for carpet cleaning as well as cooking.

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saponaceoussaponification number