primrose
UK[ˈprɪmrəʊz]US[ˈprɪmroʊz]
n
A wild plant that produces pale yellow flowers in the spring.
n
A pale yellow color.
Morpheme Breakdown
prim
rose
prim
first
rose
flower
Etymology
The word "primrose" has a beautifully literal origin. It derives from the Medieval Latin phrase prīma rosa, meaning "first rose". This name was given because the primrose is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in spring. The Latin prīma (feminine of prīmus, "first") and rosa ("rose") were combined in Old French as primerose before entering Middle English. Over time, the term evolved from its original sense of "first (or early) flower" to specifically denote the pale yellow wildflower of the genus Primula, and later to describe its characteristic color.
Analysis
Structure: prim (first) + rose (flower)
- prim: From Latin prīmus (first). Functions as a root indicating "first" or "early".
- rose: From Latin rosa (rose). Functions as a root indicating "flower" or "rose".
Examples
The banks of the stream were carpeted with pale yellow primroses.
She painted her bedroom walls a soft primrose.
According to folklore, touching a primrose was thought to reveal the entrance to a fairy realm.