anemone
UK[əˈnem.ə.ni]US[əˈnem.ə.ni]
n
A type of plant with brightly coloured flowers, often white, red, or blue, that is related to the buttercup.
n
A type of sea animal, also called a sea anemone, that has a round body and long, thin tentacles like arms.
Etymology
The word 'anemone' entered English in the mid-16th century via Latin from Greek 'anemōnē', meaning 'wind flower'. The Greek term is believed to be a derivative of 'anemos', meaning 'wind'. This connection likely stems from the ancient observation that the delicate petals of the flower are easily scattered by the wind, or that some species thrive in windy places. A folk etymology, recorded by Pliny the Elder, linked the name to a nymph named Anemone, whom the wind god transformed into the flower. The marine animal was named for its plant-like, flowing appearance, which resembles the terrestrial flower.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Latin. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into productive English morphemes without distorting its spelling or obscuring its origin.
Examples
A carpet of purple anemones bloomed in the forest clearing.
The clownfish darted safely among the tentacles of the sea anemone.
She carefully painted the delicate petals of the wood anemone.