Word of the Day for Sunday, February 23, 2014 columbine \KOL-uhm-bahyn, -bin\, adjective: 1. dovelike; dove-colored. 2. of a dove. For it is not possible to join serpentine wisdom with columbine innocency, except men know exactly all the conditions of the serpent: his baseness and going upon his belly, his volubility and lubricity, his envy and sting, and the rest; that is, all forms and natures of evil … -- Francis Bacon, The Advancement of Learning, 1605 Com forth now with thyne eyen columbyn. / How fairer been thy brestes than is wyn. -- Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Merchant's Tale," The Canterbury Tales, 1387–1400 Columbine is derived from the Latin columba meaning "dove." The columbine flower was so named because of its resemblance to a cluster of doves. Read the full entry | See synonyms | Comment on today's word | Suggest tomorrow's word Yesterday's word | Previous words | Help |
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