marigold
UK[ˈmærɪɡəʊld]US[ˈmerɪɡoʊld]
n
a plant of the daisy family with yellow, orange, or reddish-brown flowers, often grown in gardens.
n
the flower of such a plant.
Morpheme Breakdown
mary
gold
mary
gold
Etymology
the word 'marigold' is a compound formed from the name 'mary' and the noun 'gold'. it originally referred specifically to the european pot marigold (calendula officinalis), which was associated with the virgin mary in christian tradition, symbolizing her purity and sacredness. the 'gold' element directly describes the flower's vibrant golden-yellow petals. over time, the name was extended to other similar brightly colored flowers in the tagetes genus from the americas, solidifying its modern usage as a common name for these garden plants.
Analysis
Structure: mary + gold
mary (proper name) - origin: hebrew, via latin and old english. functional role: a reference to the virgin mary.
gold (precious metal) - origin: old english. functional role: describes the characteristic color of the flower.
Examples
she planted a row of bright orange marigolds along the garden path.
the marigold is often used in festivals and religious ceremonies in some cultures.
his grandmother taught him that marigolds could help repel certain pests from the vegetable patch.