asperula
|as-pe-ru-la|
C2
🇺🇸
/æsˈpɛrələ/
🇬🇧
/æsˈpɛrjʊlə/
small, rough (little rough one)
Etymology
Etymology Information
'asperula' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'asperula', where 'asper' meant 'rough' and the diminutive suffix '-ula' meant 'small'.
Historical Evolution
'asperula' was used in Latin (and later in medieval and early modern botanical Latin) and was adopted as the scientific genus name 'Asperula' in modern taxonomy.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'little rough (one)', but over time it became specialized as the botanical name for a genus of plants.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae (the bedstraw or coffee family).
Asperula includes several small, herbaceous species found across Europe and Asia.
Last updated: 2025/10/31 03:40