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Webster 1913 Edition

Viscum

‖

Vis′cum

,
Noun.
[L.]
1.
(Bot.)
A genus of parasitic shrubs, including the mistletoe of Europe.
2.
Birdlime, which is often made from the berries of the European mistletoe.

Definition 2024

Viscum

Viscum

See also: viscum

Translingual

Wikispecies

Proper noun

Viscum n

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Santalaceae – mistletoes.

viscum

viscum

See also: Viscum

Latin

Alternative forms

Noun

viscum n ‎(genitive viscī); second declension

  1. mistletoe
  2. birdlime made from this plant

Inflection

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative viscum visca
genitive viscī viscōrum
dative viscō viscīs
accusative viscum visca
ablative viscō viscīs
vocative viscum visca

Derived terms

Descendants

References

Etymology

Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *weyḱs-, possibly a European borrowing for a tree similar to the mistletoe. Compare also Ancient Greek Ancient Greek ἰξός ‎(ixós), Russian вишня ‎(víšnja), German Weichsel, and probably Italian visciola, the last likely a Germanic borrowing. Traditionally associated with vīrus, although this is unlikely.

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈwis.kum/, [ˈwɪs.kũ]

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