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ivy
ivy name applied loosely to any trailing or climbing plant , particularly cultivated forms, but more popularly a designation for Hedera helix, the so-called English ivy, and some related species of the family Araliaceae ( ginseng family). Native to Europe and temperate Asia, English ivy is a woody evergreen vine, usually sterile, whose berries contain the poisonous principle hederin. Grown in numerous varieties, it is the most popular house and wall vine. The Boston, or Japanese, ivy ( Parthenocissus tricuspidata, of Japan and China) and the American ivy, or Virginia creeper ( P. quinquefolia, of North America), are similar species of the family Vitaceae ( grape family). Both are sometimes called ampelopsis , a name usually reserved for another related genus. Kenilworth ivy, Cymbalaria muralis, of the family Scrophulariaceae ( figwort family) is common to old ruins in Europe; it is often cultivated as a ground cover. Ivy was sacred to Bacchus and was associated with various pagan religions. It was formerly hung as a tavern sign in England. Ivy is classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida. The ginseng family ivies are in the order Umbellales, the grape family ivies in the order Rhamnales, and the figwort family ivies in the order Scrophulariales. |
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"ivy." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ivy." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ivy.html "ivy." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ivy.html |
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ivy
ivy in classical times, the ivy was sacred to Bacchus (the thyrsus was sometimes wreathed with ivy). A branch or bush of ivy was the traditional sign of a vintner's shop or tavern, giving rise to the expression good wine needs no bush.
Ivy was sometimes regarded as unlucky, and is traditionally opposed to the holly at times of celebration. Ivy League a group of long-established universities in the eastern US having high academic and social prestige. It includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia. The term refers to the ivy traditionally growing over the walls of these establishments. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ivy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ivy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ivy.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ivy." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ivy.html |
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ivy
i·vy / ˈīvē/ • n. a woody evergreen climbing plant (genus Hedera, family Araliaceae), typically having shiny, dark green five-pointed leaves. Several species include the common English ivy (H. helix), often seen climbing on tree trunks and walls. ∎ used in names of similar climbing plants, e.g., poison ivy, Boston ivy. |
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"ivy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ivy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ivy.html "ivy." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ivy.html |
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Ivy
Ivy ♀ From the vocabulary word denoting the plant (Old English īfig). This given name was adopted at the end of the 19th century together with a large number of other words denoting flowers and plants pressed into service as girls' names. It is currently somewhat out of fashion.
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Ivy." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Ivy." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Ivy.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Ivy." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Ivy.html |
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ivy
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"ivy." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ivy." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ivy.html "ivy." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ivy.html |
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ivy
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T. F. HOAD. "ivy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ivy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ivy.html T. F. HOAD. "ivy." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ivy.html |
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ivy
ivy See HEDERA.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "ivy." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "ivy." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-ivy.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "ivy." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-ivy.html |
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ivy
ivy •navvy, savvy
•ave, Garvey, Harvey, larvae, Mojave
•bevvy, bevy, Chevy, heavy, levee, Levi, levy, top-heavy
•envy
•cavy, Davy, Devi, gravy, navy, slavey, venae cavae, wavy
•bivvy, chivvy, civvy, divvy, Livy, privy, skivvy, spivvy
•Sylvie • ivy • grovy
•groovy, movie
•covey, lovey, lovey-dovey, luvvy
•anchovy • Muscovy • Pahlavi
•curvy, Nervi, nervy, scurvy, topsy-turvy
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"ivy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ivy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ivy.html "ivy." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ivy.html |
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