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sweet bay

 - 5 dictionary results

sweet bay

 
Use sweet bay in a Sentence
–noun
1. laurel (def. 1).
2. an American magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, having large oblong leaves and fragrant, white flowers, common on the Atlantic coast.
Origin:
1710–20

lau⋅rel

  [lawr-uhl, lor-] noun, verb, -reled, -rel⋅ing or (especially British) -relled, -rel⋅ling.
–noun
1. Also called bay, sweet bay. a small European evergreen tree, Laurus nobilis, of the laurel family, having dark, glossy green leaves. Compare laurel family.
2. any tree of the genus Laurus.
3. any of various similar trees or shrubs, as the mountain laurel or the great rhododendron.
4. the foliage of the laurel as an emblem of victory or distinction.
5. a branch or wreath of laurel foliage.
6. Usually, laurels. honor won, as for achievement in a field or activity.
–verb (used with object)
7. to adorn or wreathe with laurel.
8. to honor with marks of distinction.
—Idioms
9. look to one's laurels, to be alert to the possibility of being excelled or surpassed: New developments in the industry are forcing long-established firms to look to their laurels.
10. rest on one's laurels, to be content with one's past or present honors, achievements, etc.: He retired at the peak of his career and is resting on his laurels.
Origin:
1250–1300; dissimilated var. of ME laurer, earlier lorer < AF; OF lorier bay tree, equiv. to lor bay, laurel (< L laurus) + -ier -ier 2 ; see -er 2

Synonyms:
6. glory, fame, renown, praise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sweet bay
lau·rel   (lôr'əl, lŏr'-)   
n.  

  1. A Mediterranean evergreen tree (Laurus nobilis) having aromatic, simple leaves and small blackish berries. Also called bay5, bay laurel, sweet bay.

  2. A shrub or tree, such as the mountain laurel, having a similar aroma or leaf shape.

    1. A wreath of laurel conferred as a mark of honor in ancient times upon poets, heroes, and victors in athletic contests. Often used in the plural.

    2. Honor and glory won for great achievement. Often used in the plural.

tr.v.   lau·reled also lau·relled, lau·rel·ing also lau·rel·ling, lau·rels also lau·rels

  1. To crown with laurel.

  2. To honor, especially with an award or a prize.


[Middle English, from Old French laureole, from Latin laureola, diminutive of laurea, laurel tree; see laureate.]
sweet bay  
n.  

  1. A shrub or small tree (Magnolia virginiana) of the southeast United States and eastern coastal areas north to Massachusetts, having large fragrant white flowers and red fruit.

  2. See laurel.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

laurel 
c.1300, lorrer, from O.Fr. laurier, from L. laurus "laurel tree," probably related to Gk. daphne "laurel" (for change of d- to l- see lachrymose), probably from a pre-IE Mediterranean language. The change of second -r- to -l- after c.1350 is by dissimilation. An emblem of victory or of distinction, hence the phrase to rest (originally repose) on one's laurels, first attested 1859.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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