Acanthi
/əˈkænθaɪ/noun
The plural of acanthus, referring to thorny plants or to acanthus-leaf ornaments in architecture and art.
Did you know?Acanthus leaves became a signature of Corinthian capitals, reportedly inspired by the sculptor Callimachus seeing an acanthus plant growing around a young girl’s grave.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂eḱ-
“Sharp, pointed, or piercing”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἄκανθα (ákantha)
“Thorn, spine, or the prickly part of a plant”
Classical Latin
Latin
acanthus
“A thorny plant, especially the acanthus”
14th Century
Middle English
acanthus
“The acanthus plant, borrowed through Latin and French traditions”
Modern English
English
acanthi
“The learned plural of acanthus, used in botany, anatomy, art, and architecture”