shepherd's weatherglass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (archaic/technical/botanical)archaic, botanical, folkloric, literary
Quick answer
What does “shepherd's weatherglass” mean?
A small annual plant, Anagallis arvensis, with scarlet or blue flowers that close in cloudy weather, used traditionally to predict rain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small annual plant, Anagallis arvensis, with scarlet or blue flowers that close in cloudy weather, used traditionally to predict rain.
A folkloric barometer; a natural indicator of atmospheric change and traditional weather lore.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally rare in both varieties. The plant is also known as 'Scarlet Pimpernel' or 'poor man's weatherglass' in both regions.
Connotations
British usage may carry slightly stronger pastoral/heritage associations; American usage may be even rarer and perceived as a historical borrowing.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. More likely encountered in historical botanical texts or regional folklore descriptions than in modern speech.
Grammar
How to Use “shepherd's weatherglass” in a Sentence
The shepherd's weatherglass closed, predicting rain.We used the shepherd's weatherglass as a natural barometer.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shepherd's weatherglass” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The field shepherd's-weatharglassed all morning, hinting at a damp afternoon.
American English
- The plants shepherd's-weatherglassed, a sure sign of an approaching front.
adverb
British English
- The flowers closed shepherd's-weatherglassly under the gathering clouds.
American English
- It behaved shepherd's-weatherglassly, a perfect natural indicator.
adjective
British English
- He had a shepherd's-weatherglass intuition about the market's turns.
American English
- Her predictions were almost shepherd's-weatherglass in their folk accuracy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical botany, ethnobotany, or folklore studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used; replaced by 'scarlet pimpernel' if the plant is named.
Technical
Used as a common name for Anagallis arvensis in botanical contexts, though 'scarlet pimpernel' is more common.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shepherd's weatherglass”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shepherd's weatherglass”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shepherd's weatherglass”
- Miswriting as 'shepherd's weather glass' (two words) or 'shepherds weatherglass' (missing apostrophe).
- Confusing it with other weather-predicting plants like pine cones.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic or highly specialised term. The plant is now almost exclusively called 'scarlet pimpernel' in everyday language.
'Weatherglass' is an old term for a barometer. The flower acts like a natural barometer because its petals close in response to high atmospheric humidity, often before rain.
Yes, but for specific effect—in historical fiction, botanical writing, or to evoke a pastoral, traditional, or folkloric atmosphere. It would seem out of place in modern technical or casual prose.
They are synonyms for the same plant (Anagallis arvensis). The different names reflect the same folk observation from different social perspectives (shepherd vs. poor man).
A small annual plant, Anagallis arvensis, with scarlet or blue flowers that close in cloudy weather, used traditionally to predict rain.
Shepherd's weatherglass is usually archaic, botanical, folkloric, literary in register.
Shepherd's weatherglass: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃɛpədz ˈwɛðəɡlɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɛpərdz ˈwɛðərɡlæs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As reliable as a shepherd's weatherglass (meaning unpredictably or folklore-reliable)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SHEPHERD looking at a tiny glass (weatherglass) on the ground (the flower) to check if it will rain.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATURE IS A MEASURING INSTRUMENT / PLANTS ARE SENTINELS / TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IS PRACTICAL SCIENCE.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'shepherd's weatherglass' primarily?