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basil

basil

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

basil an aromatic plant of the mint family, the leaves of which are used as a culinary herb. In Keats' poem ‘Isabella, or the Pot of Basil’, based on a story in the Decameron, Isabella, whose lover has been murdered by her brothers, hides his severed head in a pot with a plant of basil over it, and mourns over it.

Recorded from late Middle English, the name comes via Old French and medieval Latin from Greek basilikos ‘royal’ (see basilica), perhaps because the plant was used in some royal unguent or medicine. In Latin, the name was confused with basiliscus, on the supposition that the plant was an antidote to the poison of a basilisk.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "basil." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "basil." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-basil.html

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basil

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

basil , any plant of the genus Ocimum, tender herbs or small shrubs of the family Labiatae ( mint family), mostly of Old World warm regions and cultivated for the aromatic leaves. The basil of Keats's "Isabella" (and of Boccaccio's story) is the common or sweet basil ( O. basilicum ), once considered medicinal. This is the species usually used for seasoning; it is grown commercially chiefly in the Mediterranean area. There are also the holy basil, venerated in India; the bush basil; and related plants sometimes called basil. Basil is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Lamiales, family Labiatae.

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Basil

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Basil ♂ From the Greek name Basileios ‘royal’ (a derivative of basileus ‘king’). This name was borne by St Basil the Great (c.330–379), bishop of Caesarea, a theologian regarded as one of the Fathers of the Eastern Church. It was also the name of several early saints martyred in the East.

Short form: Baz.
Cognates: Dutch: Basiel. French: Basil. Spanish, Italian: Basilio. Portuguese: Basileu. Polish: Bazyli. Greek: Vasilios. Russian: Vasili. Finnish: Pasi.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Basil." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Basil." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Basil1.html

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basil

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

bas·il / ˈbāzəl; ˈbazəl/ • n. an aromatic annual herb of the mint family, native to tropical Asia. • Genus Ocimum, family Labiatae: several species, in particular the common sweet basil (O. basilicum) and the low-growing, compact bush basil O. minimum. ∎  the leaves of this plant used as a culinary herb, esp. in Mediterranean dishes.

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basil

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

basil Tropical plant of the mint family, whose leaves are used for flavouring food. It has white or purple flowers. Family Lamiaceae/Labiatae; species Ocimum basilicum.
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basil

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

basil aromatic plant. XV. — OF. basilic — medL. basilicum — Gr. basilikón, n. of adj. ‘royal’ (see next).
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T. F. HOAD. "basil." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "basil." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-basil.html

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Basil

The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature | 2003 | | Copyright

Basil (1852), the second novel of Wilkie Collins, and an early example of the sensation genre: a sombre exploration of sexual obsession.
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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Basil." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Basil." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Basil.html

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basil

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | | Copyright

basil An aromatic herb, Ocimum basilicum and O. minimum; other members of the genus Ocimum are also used as seasoning.
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DAVID A. BENDER. "basil." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Basil (Astrologer)

Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology | 2001 | Copyright

Basil (Astrologer)

A Florentine astrologer of the fifteenth century.
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Basil

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Basil ♂ (French) From Greek.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Basil." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Basil.html

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basil

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

basil •basil, bedazzle, dazzle, frazzle, razzle •damsel • razzle-dazzle • Basel •bezel, embezzle •Denzil •appraisal, hazel, nasal, phrasal •wych hazel •diesel, easel, teasel, weasel •chisel, drizzle, fizzle, frizzle, grizzle, mizzle, pizzle, sizzle, swizzle, twizzle •reprisal, revisal •nozzle, shemozzle •acausal, causal, clausal, menopausal, monocausal •arousal, carousal, espousal, spousal, tousle •disposal, proposal •accusal, bamboozle, foozle, ouzel, perusal, refusal •guzzle, muzzle, nuzzle, puzzle •mangel-wurzel

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Scented basils. .
Magazine article from: Country Living Gardener; 8/1/2003
Basil: summer herb packs protective punch.(EN on Foods)
Magazine article from: Environmental Nutrition; 7/1/2007
Different basils, different flavors ... and none are shy. (recipes)
Magazine article from: Sunset; 6/1/1991

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