noun
temperate and tropical lady ferns; in some classifications placed in family Polypodiaceae or in the genus Asplenium
• Syn: ↑genus Athyrium
• Hypernyms: ↑fern genus
• Member Holonyms: ↑Dryopteridaceae, ↑family Dryopteridaceae, ↑Athyriaceae, ↑family Athyriaceae
• Member Meronyms:
↑lady fern, ↑Athyrium filix-femina, ↑silvery spleenwort, ↑glade fern, ↑narrow-leaved spleenwort, ↑Athyrium pycnocarpon, ↑Diplazium pycnocarpon
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\\əˈthirēəm\ nounUsage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, irregular from Greek athoros without sperm (from a- a- (II) + thoros semen) + New Latin -ium; akin to Middle Irish dairim I leap upon, Sanskrit dhārāstream
: a genus of ferns (family Polypodiaceae) differing from Asplenium (in which it is often included) in having curved or lunate sori — compare lady fern
Useful english dictionary. 2012.