narcissus (redirected from narcissuses)

Narcissus, in the Bible

Narcissus (närsĭs`əs), in the New Testament, Roman whose household was partly Christian.

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Narcissus, in Roman history

Narcissus, d. A.D. 54, secretary of the Roman Emperor Claudius I. A freedman with great influence, he revealed to Claudius the intrigue of Messalina and expedited her death (A.D. 48). The woman that Narcissus chose for Claudius' next wife was, however, passed over in favor of Agrippina the Younger, who was hostile to Narcissus. After Claudius' death she drove Narcissus to commit suicide. In the course of his lifetime Narcissus amassed a huge fortune.

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Narcissus, in Greek mythology

Narcissus (närsĭs`əs), in Greek mythology, beautiful youth who refused all offers of love, including that of Echo. As punishment for his indifference he was made to fall in love with his own image in a mountain pool. Unable to possess the image, he pined away and was turned into a flower.

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narcissus, in botany

narcissus: see amaryllis.

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narcissus

Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus).

(credit: Walter Chandoha)

Any of about 40 species of bulbous, fragrant, ornamental plants that make up the genus Narcissus in the amaryllis family, native mainly to Europe. Popular spring garden flowers include the daffodil, or narcissus (N. pseudonarcissus), the jonquil (N. jonquilla), and poet's narcissus (N. poeticus). The stem usually bears one large blossom. The central crown of each yellow, white, or pink flower ranges in shape from the form of a trumpet, as in the daffodil, to a ringlike cup, as in the poet's narcissus. Rushlike or flattened leaves arise from the base of the plant. Though poisonous, the bulbs were once used in medicines.

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Narcissus

In Greek mythology, a beautiful youth who fell in love with his own reflection. He was the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Leriope. His mother was told by a seer that he would have a long life, provided he never saw his own reflection. His callous rejection of the nymph Echo or of his lover Ameinias drew upon him the gods' vengeance: he fell in love with his own image in the waters of a spring and wasted away. The narcissus flower sprang up where he died.

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narcissus

any amaryllidaceous plant of the Eurasian genus Narcissus, esp N. poeticus, whose yellow, orange, or white flowers have a crown surrounded by spreading segments

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Narcissus

beautiful youth who falls in love with his own reflection. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 171–172]

See : Beauty, Masculine

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narcissus

flower of conceit. [Plant Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 170; Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 171–172]

See : Conceit

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Narcissus

wastes away yearning to kiss reflection of himself. [Gk. Myth.: Brewer Handbook, 745; Rom. Lit.: Metamorphoses]

See : Despair

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narcissus

symbol of self-centeredness. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 176]

See : Egotism

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Narcissus

falls in love with his reflection in pond. [Gk. Myth.: Brewer Handbook, 745; Rom. Lit.: Metamorphoses]

See : Egotism

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Narcissus

enamored of his own reflection in a pool, he pines away and is turned into a flower. [Gk. Myth.: Benét, 701]

See : Transformation

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Narcissus

fell in love with own image. [Gk. Myth.: Howe, 174]

See : Vanity