Lotus
/ˈloʊ.təs/noun
A water lily or similar flowering plant, especially one with large, showy blossoms; also used symbolically in religion and art.
Did you know?In ancient Egyptian and later Buddhist symbolism, the lotus became a powerful image of rebirth because it rises cleanly from muddy water, turning a real flower into a spiritual emblem.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leudh-
“to grow, to swell, to sprout”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λωτός (lōtós)
“a lotus plant; in some Greek texts, an edible plant with a sweet fruit”
Latin
Latin
lotus
“the lotus plant”
Old French
Old French
lotus
“lotus; water lily”
16th Century
English
lotus
“a lotus plant, especially as known from classical writings”
Modern English
English
lotus
“a water lily or sacred lotus, and by extension a symbol of purity or spiritual awakening”
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