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mistletoe Definition

mistle·toe (misəl tō′)

noun

  1. any of various evergreen plants (genera Phoradendron and Viscum) of the mistletoe family, parasitic on deciduous or evergreen trees, with small, yellowish-green leaves, yellowish flowers, and shiny, white, poisonous berries
  2. a sprig of such a plant, hung as a Christmas decoration: men by custom kiss women standing under it

Etymology: OE misteltan (akin to ON mistilteinn) < mistel, mistletoe (prob. < Gmc *mista, dung: from being propagated by seeds in bird dung) + tan, a twig

adjective

designating a family (Loranthaceae, order Santalales) of parasitic, dicotyledonous shrubs and small trees

mistletoe Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • gather: The Druids, for example, gathered mistletoe during their September celebration.
  • hang: The ancient Druids believed that hanging mistletoe in your doorway protected you from evil spirits.
  • include: Some carried greenery including mistletoe, others bells and/or ceremonial staves of antlers ' horns.
  • harvest: Many people are familiar with the fact that the old Druids harvested mistletoe from the Oak with a golden sickle.
  • bring: It was considered particularly unlucky for anybody to bring mistletoe into the house before Christmas.
  • get: If athletes get athlete's foot, do astronauts get mistletoe?

Adjective modifier

  • sacred: In dim and mysterious groves of oak, wherefrom the sacred mistletoe was gathered, the Druids decided upon the merits of the competitors.
  • own: From making your own mistletoe kissing ring to personal Christmas crackers, Christmas Decorating should inspire and show you how it is done.

Modifies a noun

  • bough: The center piece of the decorations was a large mistletoe bough.
  • berry: This may have been the reason why excess kissing was curtailed by a new custom of picking of a mistletoe berry for every kiss.
  • plant: They also found evidence of pollen from a mistletoe plant in his stomach.
  • therapy: Thoughts of contraindication to mistletoe therapy belong to the realm of unfounded speculation.
  • moth: The mistletoe tortrix moth and the mistletoe weevil were both discovered, new to Britain, from Herefordshire.

Noun used with modifier

  • damage: It covers identification, lifecycle and biology, the damage mistletoe causes to trees, and its management.

Browse dictionary entries near mistletoe

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