Robur

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of strong, durable oak tree known for its hardwood and longevity; a literary term denoting strength or stamina; a brand name used for robust machinery or equipment
2. A species of oak characterized by its tough wood and enduring nature; a metaphor for physical or moral strength in literature; a designation for heavy-duty industrial products
3. A sturdy oak tree valued for its hardness and resilience; an emblem of power or robustness in textual contexts; a commercial label applied to reliable mechanical devices

Etymology: Most English speakers who meet "robur" meet it as a name, not a word for a tree. It was given to a fictional airship commander, Robur the Conqueror, in Jules Verne's 1886 novel "Robur-le-Conquérant." The name was a deliberate choice: Verne took it from Latin, where "robur" meant a kind of oak, but also strength and hardness. The character's name thus carried the same double sense the Romans had given the tree, a hard, sturdy wood that stood for power. The Latin word itself goes back to the idea of hardness rather than to any particular tree. Its strength-and-hardness meanings came first, and the oak became the most famous thing called by that name because its timber was so tough. English speakers borrowed the botanical sense for the tree species "Quercus robur," the common or English oak, which is why the Latin name still appears in botanical lists.

Synonyms: strength, power, might, fortitude, vigor

Antonyms: weakness, fragility