tepal

[ tee-puhl, tep-uhl ]

noun

, Botany.

1. one of the divisions of a flower perianth, especially one that is not clearly differentiated into petals and sepals, as in lilies and tulips.

tepal

/ ˈtiːpəl; ˈtɛpəl /

noun

1. any of the subdivisions of a perianth that is not clearly differentiated into calyx and corolla

tepal

/ tē′pəl,tĕp′əl /

1. A division of the perianth of a flower in which the sepals and petals are indistinguishable, as in tulips and lilies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tepal¹

< French tépale (1827), alteration of pétale petal, on the model of sépale sepal; coined by Augustin-Pierre de Candolle (1778–1841), Swiss botanist

Word History and Origins

Origin of tepal¹

C20: from French tépale changed (on analogy with sépale sepal) from pétale petal

Example Sentences

The Maya verb tepal=to govern or reign, or to be “one who mediates,” appears to be allied to the above Nahuatl words and it is not unlikely that the employment of the flint-knife or tecpatl as an emblem of office had been suggested by the fact that its Nahuatl name resembles, in sound, the above words formed with tecpan, and also the Maya verb tepal.

From Project Gutenberg

The expression multepal, from mul, to do an act jointly, or in common, and tepal, to govern, is interesting as showing that the government of the country in its golden days of prosperity was not one of an autocratic monarch, but a league or confederation of the principal chiefs of the peninsula.

From Project Gutenberg

I. Ten c en, I who am I.Tepal, v.

From Project Gutenberg

Uaxac ahau; paxci chakanputun; oxlahunkal hab cu tepal chacanputun tumen Ytza 139-1unincob; ca talob u tzaclob yotochob tucaten; ca u zatahob be chakanputun; lay u katunil 139-2biciob ahYtzaob yalan che, yalan haban, yalan ak ti numyaob.

From Project Gutenberg

Hun ahau; lahunkal hab cu tepal chicħen Ytza, ca paxi ca binob t cahtal chakanputun ti yanhi yotochob ahYtzaob kuyan uinicobi.

From Project Gutenberg