hepatica

noun

he·​pat·​i·​ca hi-ˈpa-ti-kə How to pronounce hepatica (audio)
plural hepaticas
: any of a genus (Hepatica) of perennial herbs of the buttercup family with lobed leaves and delicate flowers
especially : a small herb (Hepatica nobilis synonym Anemone hepatica) of northern temperate woodlands that has small purple, pink, blue, or white flowers : pennywort sense b

Examples of hepatica in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some of the first blooms to appear in Shenandoah National Park each spring are the bright purple hepatica and cheery white-and-yellow bloodroot flowers. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 23 Mar. 2023 The slope is retained by logs; rocks; steps; and plantings of ornamental grasses and ground covers like ferns, cyclamen, hepaticas and native trillium. Valerie Easton, The Seattle Times, 17 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hepatica.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Medieval Latin, liverwort, from Latin, feminine of hepaticus

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hepatica was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near hepatica

Cite this Entry

“Hepatica.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hepatica. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hepatica

noun
he·​pat·​i·​ca hi-ˈpat-i-kə How to pronounce hepatica (audio)
: any of a genus of herbs related to the buttercups and having leaves with three lobes and delicate white, pink, or bluish flowers

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