acanthus n : any plant of the genus Acanthus having large spiny leaves and spikes or white or purplish flowers; native to Mediterranean region but widely cultivated [also: acanthi (pl)]

English

Etymology

From acanthus < (akanthos) < (akē) "thorn" + (anthos) "flower"

Pronunciation

• /əˈkænθəs/

Noun

1. A genus of herbaceous prickly plants with toothed leaves, (family Acanthaceae, order Scrophulariales) found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India; includes bear's breech.
2. An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of the acanthus (Acanthus spinosus); — used in the capitals of the Corinthian and composite orders.

Translations

See also

• acantha

References

• Webster 1913}}

Latin

Etymology

From

Acanthus (plural: acanthus, rarely acanthuses (English) or acanthi (Latin), or feminine form - acantha) is the Latinized form of the Greek Acanthos or Akanthos. It can also be used as the prefix Acantho-, meaning 'thorny'. It may refer to:

Botany

• Acanthus (genus), in botany, is both a common name and a genus of flowering plant
• Acantho, as a prefix, is used in botany for spiny-fruited (Acanthocarpous) or spiny-branched (Acanthocladous).
• Acanthus (ornament), form in architecture and in leather carving derived from the acanthus plant.
• The Acanthus is believed by some highly respected theological scholars to be the plant used by Roman soldiers to make the crown which was placed on the head of Jesus Christ when they mocked him by giving him a crown, scepter, and crown of Acanthus leaves. The Greek word for "thorn" and "acanthus" have the same genitive plural (akanthon), which is the word used in the Gospel of Matthew. As shown elsewhere here, the Acanthus is indigenous to the Mediterranean, and it was a iconic symbol of classical Greek architechture. Crowns during that time and region were made of wreaths or diadems.

Cities

• Acanthus, Ontario
• Acanthus (Greece), the name of an ancient Greek city of the Chalcidice
• Acanthus (Egypt), an ancient city of Egypt

Individuals

• Acanthus or Acantha was a Greek mythological figure (possibly a nymph) associated with the acanthus plant.
• Acanthus (Spartan) was a Spartan athlete
• 'Acanthus' was the pen-name of the cartoonist Dr Harold Frank Hoar

Fiction

• Acanthus are a fictional path of enchanters, magicians and witches in White Wolf's Mage: the Awakening RPG.