mistletoe
mistletoe
Definition
mistle·toe (mis′əl tō′)
noun
- 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
- 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
- mistle thrush
- mistiness
- mistimed
- mistime
- Misti
- misthink
- mistflower
- misterm
- misterioso
- mister
- mistook
- mistral
- mistranslate
- mistreat
- mistreatment
- mistress
- mistrial
- mistrust
- mistrustful
- misty
