alyssum

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a·lys·sum

(ə-lĭs′əm)

1. Any of various chiefly Mediterranean weeds or ornamentals of the genus Alyssum in the mustard family, having racemes of white or yellow flowers. Also called madwort.

2. Any of various similar plants in the mustard family, especially sweet alyssum.

[New Latin Alyssum, genus name, from Latin alysson, kind of madder, from Greek alusson, a plant believed to cure rabies : a-, not; see a-¹ + lussa, rabies; see wl̥k^wo- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

alyssum

(ˈælɪsəm)

(Plants) any widely cultivated herbaceous garden plant of the genus Alyssum, having clusters of small yellow or white flowers: family Brassicaceae (crucifers). See also sweet alyssum, alison

[C16: from New Latin, from Greek alusson, from alussos (adj) curing rabies, referring to the ancient belief in the plant's healing properties]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

a•lys•sum

(əˈlɪs əm)

n.

1. any of various plants of the mustard family, having gray leaves and clusters of small yellow or white flowers.

2. sweet alyssum.

[1545–55; < New Latin; Latin alysson < Greek, neuter of ályssos curing (canine) madness, derivative of a- a-⁶lýssa madness]

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Noun	1.	alyssum - any garden plant of the genus Alyssum having clusters of small yellow or white flowers madwort crucifer, cruciferous plant - any of various plants of the family Cruciferae genus Alyssum, Alyssum - a genus of the family Cruciferae
	2.	Alyssum - a genus of the family Cruciferae genus Alyssum dilleniid dicot genus - genus of more or less advanced dicotyledonous trees and shrubs and herbs Brassicaceae, Cruciferae, family Brassicaceae, family Cruciferae, mustard family - a large family of plants with four-petaled flowers; includes mustards, cabbages, broccoli, turnips, cresses, and their many relatives alyssum, madwort - any garden plant of the genus Alyssum having clusters of small yellow or white flowers

Translations

alisso

References in classic literature ?

October though it was, the garden was still very sweet with dear, old-fashioned, unworldly flowers and shrubs -- sweet may, southern-wood, lemon verbena, alyssum, petunias, marigolds and chrysanthemums.

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Meanwhile, a group of closely-related, mat-forming flowers remain under the alyssum heading.

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They combine well with white alyssum, blue lobelia, and dark green English ivy.

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Luckily for gardeners, these include many favorite border flowers such as cosmos, sweet alyssum, and yarrow.