Hyacinth Meaning
/ˈhaɪ.ə.sɪnθ/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAny bulbous plant of the genus Hyacinthus, native to the Mediterranean and South Africa.
nounA variety of zircon, ranging in color from brown, orange, reddish-brown and yellow; a jacinth.
Sentence Examples
The daughters were young and beautiful—three charming blossoms—a rose, a lily, and a white hyacinth.
Vendors wrapped items in banana leaves and water hyacinth strings.
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the spring garden, the purple ____ bloomed beautifully and attracted many bees.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The sweet fragrance of the purple ____ filled the garden on a bright spring morning.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English jacinth, partly from Old French jacincte, from Medieval Latin jacintus, and partly from Old English iacinþ, from Medieval Latin jacinthus, both from Latin hyacinthus, from Ancient Greek ὑάκινθος (huákinthos, “any of several dark blue flowers”), ultimately from a non-Indo-European Mediterranean language. Re-Latinized in the 16th century.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"On life's long round by chance I found / A dell impearled with dew, / Where hyacinths, gushing from the ground, / Lent to the earth heaven's native hue / Of holy blue."
— 1889, Mathilde Blind, “[Love in Exile. Song X.] ‘On Life’s Long Round’.”, in The Ascent of Man, London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC, stanza 1, page 177:
""Cynthia seems to me such an out-of-the-way name, only fit for poetry, not for daily use."
"It is mine," said Mrs. Kirkpatrick, in a plaintive tone of reproach. "I was christened Hyacinth, and her poor father would have her called after me. I'm sorry you don't like it."
[…]
"Yes; Hyacinth! It's the silliest name I've ever heard of; but it's hers, and I must call her by it.[…]""
— 1864 August – 1866 January, [Elizabeth] Gaskell, “A Crisis”, in Wives and Daughters. An Every-day Story. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1866, →OCLC, pages 104 and 119:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the spring garden, the purple ____ bloomed beautifully and attracted many bees.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The sweet fragrance of the purple ____ filled the garden on a bright spring morning.