Lilies
/ˈlɪl.iːz/noun
Plural of lily, a plant of the genus Lilium with large, showy flowers.
Did you know?The English word lily comes through Old English from Latin lilium, which itself is widely believed to be a borrowing from a pre-Latin Mediterranean source, so even the flower’s name has roots older than classical Rome.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leyl-
“A proposed prehistory behind the plant name, though the ultimate origin is uncertain and not securely reconstructed.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λείριον (leírion)
“A lily, especially a fragrant ornamental flower.”
Latin
Latin
lilium
“A lily.”
Old English
OE
lilie
“A lily; the flower.”
Middle English
ME
lilie
“A lily; later also the emblematic flower in religious and poetic usage.”
Modern English
English
lilies
“Plural of lily; the flowers or plants.”