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violet
violet common name for some members of the Violaceae, a family of chiefly perennial herbs (and sometimes shrubs, small trees, or climbers) found on all continents. Violets, including the genus Viola and similar related species, are popular as florists', garden, and wildflowers. Of this large group, with its fragrant blossoms ranging from deep purple to yellow or white, over 60 species are native to the United States and well over 100 varieties are offered in trade as ornamentals. Florists' violets are usually the sweet, or English, violet ( V. odorata ). Garden violets (often called violas) are generally hybrids and may be purple, blue, rose, yellow, white, or combinations of these, sometimes with double flowers. It became the flower of Athens; followers of Napoleon, who promised to return from Elba with violets in the spring, used the blossom as a badge; and in the United States a violet is the floral emblem of three states (New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin). The flavors of various species, particularly the sweet violet, have been used for perfume, dye, and medicine and have been candied. The common pansy was originally derived, long ago, from the Old World V. tricolor, one of several species called heartsease and Johnny-jump-up; the Eastern field pansy, a wildflower of North America, is a separate species. Some unrelated plants are also called violets, e.g., the African violet of the family Gesneriaceae (gesneria family) and the dog-toothed violet of the family Liliaceae (lily family). True violets are classified in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Violales, family Violaceae. |
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"violet." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "violet." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-violet.html "violet." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-violet.html |
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Violet
Violet (1997), a musical play by Brian Crawley (book, lyrics), Jeanine Tesori (music). [Playwrights Horizons, 32 perf.; NYDCC Award.] The Southern girl Violet ( Lauren Ward) is marked with a facial scar she's had since her father had an accident with his ax. In 1964 she sets out from Spruce Pine, North Carolina, by bus to attend a revivalist meeting held by a televangelist in Oklahoma with the hopes of getting cured. On the journey she befriends two servicemen, the good ol' boy Monty ( Michael Park) and the African‐American Flick ( Michael McElroy). The faith healing at the revival does not remove the scar, but she does find the strength to overcome her prejudices and fall in love with Flick. Notable songs: Raise Me Up; On My Way; Let It Sing; Down the Mountain. Based on Doris Betts's novel The Ugliest Pilgrim, the chamber piece was praised by the press and plans were made to move to a commercial venue until a pan in the all‐powerful New York Times scuttled the transfer. The work has since been slowly finding recognition in regional houses. Jeanine TESORI (b. 1961) was born in Manhasset, New York, and studied music at Barnard College. She arranged dance music and orchestrations for several musicals on and Off Broadway and conducted orchestras before Violet revealed her composing talents. She also wrote the music for the Broadway hit Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002).
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Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Violet." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Violet." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-Violet.html Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Violet." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-Violet.html |
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Violaceae
Violaceae A family of dicotyledonous (see DICOTYLEDON) herbs, and some shrubs and trees, in which the leaves are simple and stipulate. The flowers are usually solitary, though sometimes in racemes, mostly irregular, with 5 free sepals, petals, and stamens, and the corolla is frequently spurred. The superior ovary is 1-celled, with usually 3 parietal placentae, with a single, often curved and thickened style. Modern classifications recognize some 23 genera, with 930 species, found throughout much of the world. Viola (violets, pansies), containing herbs with alternate leaves and spurred corollas, is the largest genus and is mainly temperate. Various species are cultivated for their attractive flowers.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Violaceae." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "Violaceae." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-Violaceae.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "Violaceae." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-Violaceae.html |
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violet
vi·o·let / ˈvī(ə)lət/ • n. 1. a herbaceous plant (genus Viola, family Violaceae) of temperate regions, typically having purple, blue, or white five-petaled flowers, one of which forms a landing pad for pollinating insects. ∎ used in names of similar-flowered plants of other families, e.g., African violet. 2. a bluish-purple color seen at the end of the spectrum opposite red. • adj. of a purplish-blue color. |
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"violet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "violet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-violet.html "violet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-violet.html |
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Violet
Violet ♀ From the name of the flower (Old French violette, Late Latin violetta, a diminutive of viola). This was one of the earliest flower names to become popular in Britain, being used as early as 1700 and becoming well established in the 19th century, although it is now somewhat out of favour.
Short form: Vi. |
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Violet." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Violet." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Violet.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Violet." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Violet.html |
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violet
violet The sweetly scented flowers of the wild violet (Viola odorata) are candied or crystallized and used as decorations in confectionery, or to make a sweet soufflé. The flowers can be used to flavour syrups, and both flowers and leaves can be used in salads.
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DAVID A. BENDER. "violet." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "violet." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-violet.html DAVID A. BENDER. "violet." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-violet.html |
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violet
violet Any of c.400 species of herbs and shrublets of the genus Viola, found worldwide. Violets may be annual or perennial, with five-petalled flowers that grow singly on stalks; usually blue, violet, lilac, yellow, or white. Family Violaceae.
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"violet." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "violet." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-violet.html "violet." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-violet.html |
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violet
violet
A. plant of the genus Viola ; B. dress of purplish-blue, the colour itself XIV. — (O)F. violette, †-ete in both senses and (O)F. violet in the second sense, dims. of viole — L. viola VIOLA1. |
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T. F. HOAD. "violet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "violet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-violet.html T. F. HOAD. "violet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-violet.html |
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violet
violet traditionally regarded as a flower of spring, the violet is also sometimes taken as emblematic of modesty and shyness.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "violet." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "violet." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-violet.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "violet." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-violet.html |
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violet
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "violet." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "violet." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-violet.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "violet." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-violet.html |
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violet
violet
•mallet, palette, pallet, valet
•tablet • pamphlet • aglet • anklet
•candlelit • hamlet
•Caplet, chaplet
•lamplit • flatlet • mantlet
•haslet, Hazlitt
•scarlet, Scarlett, starlet, starlit, varlet
•armlet • lancelet • branchlet
•martlet, tartlet
•plantlet • pellet • reglet • necklet
•playlet • lakelet • bracelet
•platelet, statelet
•wavelet • leaflet • eaglet • streamlet
•billet, filet, fillet, millet, skillet, willet
•driblet, triblet
•piglet • singlet • gimlet • inlet
•kinglet, ringlet, springlet, winglet
•ripplet, triplet
•wristlet
•eyelet, islet, stylet, twilit
•pikelet
•collet, Smollett, wallet
•goblet • rodlet
•omelette (US omelet) • droplet
•torchlit
•corselet, corselette
•gauntlet (US gantlet) • owlet
•townlet • toadlet • notelet • toilet
•moonlit • sextuplet • fruitlet
•bullet, pullet
•booklet, brooklet, hooklet
•quadruplet • annulet • septuplet
•rivulet • quintuplet
•gullet, mullet
•doublet • floodlit
•runlet, sunlit
•couplet • cutlet • frontlet • violet
•coverlet • circlet • verselet
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"violet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "violet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-violet.html "violet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-violet.html |
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