campanula
UK[kæmˈpænjʊlə]US[kæmˈpænjələ]
n
A plant of a genus that includes the harebell, Canterbury bell, and other bellflowers, typically having blue, purple, or white bell-shaped flowers.
Morpheme Breakdown
campan
ula
campan
bell
ula
diminutive suffix
Etymology
The word 'campanula' is a modern Latin term adopted directly into botanical English. It originates from the Late Latin word 'campana', meaning 'bell', which itself is derived from the phrase 'vasa campana' (Campanian vessels), referring to bronze bells first made in the Italian region of Campania. The suffix '-ula' is a diminutive, literally translating the word to 'little bell'. This name was applied to the genus by the botanist Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century, perfectly describing the characteristic shape of the plant's flowers.
Analysis
Structure: campan (bell) + ula (diminutive suffix)
campan (from Latin 'campana', meaning 'bell'); ula (a Latin diminutive suffix meaning 'small').
Examples
The delicate blue campanula added a splash of color to the rock garden.
Campanula rotundifolia, commonly known as the harebell, is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
She planted a border of white campanulas alongside the path.