I. əˈdänə̇s, -dō- noun
Etymology: New Latin, after Adonis, in Greco-Roman mythology a beautiful youth beloved by Aphrodite and killed by a wild boar, from Latin, from Greek Adōnis; from the legend that a plant sprang forth from his blood
1. capitalized : a small genus of herbs (family Ranunculaceae) having alternate finely dissected leaves and solitary red or yellow flowers
2. -es pharmacy : the herbage of a plant ( Adonis vernalis ) formerly used like digitalis in dropsy
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: after Adonis, mythological personage
1. usually capitalized : an exceptionally handsome young man
2. : an 18th century wig