Amaryllaceous
/ˌæm.ə.rɪˈleɪ.ʃəs/noun
Relating to plants of the amaryllis family.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek poetry: Amaryllis was the name of a shepherdess in Theocritus, and later botanists turned that literary flower-name into a scientific label.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἀμαρυλλίς (Amaryllis)
“A poetic female name used by Theocritus for a shepherdess, later associated with a flower”
Late Latin
Latin
amaryllis
“A borrowed literary name for a type of flower”
18th Century
Latin/Scientific
amaryllid-
“A botanical family name formed from amaryllis”
19th Century
English
amaryllaceous
“Pertaining to plants of the amaryllis family”
Modern English
English
amaryllaceous
“Relating to the amaryllis family of plants”