Verdures

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A diverse range of green leafy vegetables often used in cooking
2. Any young shoots or leaves of plants that are edible and typically consumed for their nutritional value
3. The fresh green parts of plants, particularly those used in salads and as garnishes, contributing to the vibrancy of dishes

Etymology: "Verdures" is the plural of "verdure", and the singular is the more interesting of the two. It descends from Late Latin "viridūra", built from "viridis" ("green") and the suffix "-ūra", which forms abstract nouns, so the core idea is simply greenness. The word passed through Old French "verdure" and Middle French "verdure" before arriving in Middle English, where it kept that same sense of green growth. Over time "verdure" shifted from the colour itself to the flourishing greenery that displays it, which is why the word is so often tied to plants and landscape rather than paint or cloth. The plural "verdures" is the form that names the individual green leafy things, which fits the meaning here: green leafy vegetables.