papilionaceous

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papilionaceous

Where it comes from

From New Latin papilionaceus (from Latin pāpiliō (“butterfly”)) + -ous. In scientific sense, after Papilionaceae (family name).

adjective more papilionaceous · most papilionaceous

obsolete Pertaining to a butterfly or butterflies. Thefe are alfo called by Reaumur Papillionaceous Flies, that have their wings half tranfparent.
Having a corolla in the form of a butterfly, with prominent wing-like petals; (generally) pertaining to the Faboidea (Papilionoidea) family of plants. [T]he broad road is lined with wild bushes and tangled shrubs lavishly decked with brilliant blossoms: the lentisk, so covered with yellow, papilionaceous flowers [translating Schmetterlingsblumen] that not a green leaf is visible…
figuratively Like a butterfly; showy; capricious. Ali G was a glorious, comedic butterfly, but it's my sad duty to report that his exquisitely papilionaceous character is currently being broken upon a wheel.

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MLA

"papilionaceous." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/papilionaceous. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

papilionaceous. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/papilionaceous

Chicago

"papilionaceous." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/papilionaceous.

BibTeX

@misc{papilionaceous_2026,
  title = {papilionaceous},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/papilionaceous},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}