grass-of-parnassus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowLiterary / Botanical / Regional / Archaic
Quick answer
What does “grass-of-parnassus” mean?
A perennial flowering plant of the genus Parnassia, typically found in wetlands, with white flowers having distinctive green veins.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A perennial flowering plant of the genus Parnassia, typically found in wetlands, with white flowers having distinctive green veins.
A term poetically used to denote beauty found in wild, damp places; also a rare literary or regional name for any plant of the genus Parnassia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant meaning differences. The plant is native to both regions, but the term is more commonly found in older British literary and botanical texts.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries a highly specific, somewhat archaic or scientific/poetic tone. No modern colloquial use.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both varieties, encountered almost exclusively in specific botanical, literary, or historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “grass-of-parnassus” in a Sentence
The grass-of-parnassus [VERB] in the bog.We found [DETERMINER] grass-of-parnassus.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in botanical papers, field guides, and ecological studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific term in botany, horticulture, and environmental conservation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grass-of-parnassus”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grass-of-parnassus”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grass-of-parnassus”
- Treating it as a type of grass (it is not).
- Incorrect plural: 'grass-of-parnassuses' (better: 'plants of grass-of-parnassus').
- Misspelling: 'grass-of-parnassis', 'grass-of-parnasus'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a flowering herbaceous plant (genus Parnassia) and is not related to true grasses.
It is named after Mount Parnassus in Greece, traditionally sacred to Apollo and the Muses, likely due to the plant's perceived beauty.
It would be highly unusual. It is a specific botanical/literary term. Most people would simply say 'a wildflower' or 'a bog flower'.
Yes, the standard form is 'grass-of-parnassus', though it can sometimes be found as 'grass of Parnassus'.
A perennial flowering plant of the genus Parnassia, typically found in wetlands, with white flowers having distinctive green veins.
Grass-of-parnassus is usually literary / botanical / regional / archaic in register.
Grass-of-parnassus: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrɑːs əv pɑːˈnasəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡræs əv pɑːrˈnæsəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the grassy slopes of Mount Parnassus in Greece, but the plant actually grows in bogs – a poetic misdirection.
Conceptual Metaphor
WILDERNESS AS A SOURCE OF POETIC INSPIRATION (from its link to the Muses' mountain).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'grass-of-parnassus' primarily?