‖ reseda
(rɪˈsiːdə)
Also erron. resida.
[L. resēda, acc. to Pliny f. the imperative of resēdāre to assuage, allay (the words resēdā morbis having been used as a charm when applying the plant to the reduction of tumours).]
1. Bot. An extensive genus of herbaceous plants (typical of the order Resedaceæ), common in the Mediterranean region. The best known species are the Mignonette (R. odorata) and the Dyer's Weed (R. luteola).
| 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp. s.v., The species of reseda enumerated by Mr. Tournefort are these. 1. The common reseda [etc.]. 1754 Catal. Seeds in Fam. Rose Kilravock (Spald. Club) 427 Sweet-scented resida. 1785 Martin Rousseau's Bot. xx. (1794) 280 Sweet Reseda or Mignionette has oblong leaves some of which are entire. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVI. 87/1 Reseda, Dyer's-weed, Yellow-weed, Weld, or Wild-woad. 1875 Bennett & Dyer tr. Sachs' Bot. 177 Distinctly successive formation of the members of a whorl (as in..flowers of Reseda, &c.). |
2. [
orig. in French form
réséda.] A pale green colour similar to that of mignonette.
| 1883 Contemp. Rev. Sept. 424 Réséda,..a pretty pale green which came in some seven years ago.., the soft tint of mignonette. 1889 Pall Mall G. 28 Feb. 4/1 Réséda has been all the rage this season, and réséda it was in the streets till you got quite..tired of seeing it. 1968 E. Brill Old Cotswold v. 85 Its tall spires can sometimes be seen on the banks of newly-widened roads, the pale reseda of its leaves conspicuous among the darker greens of coarser herbage. |
| attrib. and Comb. 1873 Young Englishwoman Mar. 130/1 A costume of réséda-coloured poplinette is composed of a skirt rasterre, and a redingote tunic. Ibid. Apr. 182/2 A dress of réséda grosgrain silk. 1884 Pall Mall G. 8 Apr. 4/2 A réséda skirt. 1902 Westm. Gaz. 23 Oct. 3/1 One sees..dark blue and reseda-green and some red frocks and costumes. 1927 F. B. Young Portrait of Clare 25 She forced herself to dwell upon the vision of the reseda shantung dress designed by Liberty. 1977 Western Morning News 30 Aug. 9/2 (Advt.), 1977 BMW 528. Manual. Reseda Green. Sunroof. Tint. |