VERONICA

I. noun Etymology: New Latin, genus of herbs Date: 1527 any of a genus ( Veronica ) of annual or perennial herbs of the snapdragon family that have small pink, white, blue or purple flowers with a 4- or 5-lobed calyx, a rotate corolla, two stamens, and the fruit a compressed capsule, II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Veronica, legendary saint of the 1st century A.D. Date: 15th century an image of Christ's face said to have been impressed on the cloth that St. Veronica gave him to wipe his face with on the way to his crucifixion, III. noun Etymology: Spanish verónica, from Saint Veronica Date: 1926 a pase in bullfighting in which the cape is swung slowly away from the charging bull while the matador keeps his feet in the same position