Reseda

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɹɪˈsiːdə/

Definitions

1. A plant with small greenish-yellow flowers, or the pale grayish-green color derived from its leaves
2. A flowering plant known for its aromatic greenish-yellow blooms and a color resembling the hue obtained from its foliage is recognized as significant in gardens
3. This particular species features small, fragrant flowers of a yellowish-green tone and also provides a distinct pale green color taken from its leaves

Etymology: The most striking thing about this word is that it is named for a healing herb, and the name was built around the idea of calming. Roman writer Pliny the Elder, in the first century CE, linked the Latin "resēda" to the verb "resēdāre," meaning "to soothe," formed from "re-" ("again") and "sēdāre" ("to assuage" or "calm"). The plant was thought to ease pain and swellings, and the name seems to record that reputation. The name passed through French "réséda" into English, where it now refers to the mignonette, Reseda odorata. Its small, fragrant flowers are a yellowish-green, and the pale green colour called reseda is taken from its leaves. So the same plant gave English both a scent and a shade of green, while its Latin name pointed to a medicinal use.