Iris
/ˈaɪ.rɪs/noun
A genus of flowering plants with showy flowers, commonly found in gardens.
Did you know?In ancient mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow, symbolizing a bridge between the mortal and divine realms, enhancing its magical resonance.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ey̯e-
“to see or to perceive, relating to vision.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἶρις (Îris)
“the personification of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods.”
Latin
Latin
iris
“the rainbow, also used to denote the eye's colored part.”
Middle English
Middle English
iris
“a term adopted from Latin to refer to the flower and the part of the eye.”
Modern English
English
iris
“used for both the anatomical structure in the eye and the flowering plant, symbolizing beauty and the spectrum of colors.”
Explore more surprising origins