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pansy
(pan′zē)
noun pl. pansies
- any of various violets, esp. a popular garden hybrid (Viola tricolor hortensis), with flat, broad, velvety petals in many colors
- ☆ Slang an effeminate man; esp., an effeminate male homosexual: often a contemptuous term
Origin: Fr pensée, a thought < penser, to think < L pensare: see pensive
See pansy in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun pl. pan·sies
- Any of various plants of the genera Achimenes or Viola, especially V. tricolor or its hybrids, having flowers with velvety petals of various colors.
- A deep to strong violet.
- Offensive Slang a. Used as a disparaging term for a man or boy who is considered effeminate.b. Used as a disparaging term for a homosexual man.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English pancy
Origin: , from Old French pensee, thought, remembrance, pansy
Origin: , from feminine past participle of penser, to think; see pensive
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