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cru·ci·fer

(krsə-fər)

1. One who bears a cross in a religious procession.

2. A plant in the mustard family.

[Late Latin : Latin crux, cruc-, cross + Latin -fer, -fer. Sense 2, from New Latin Cruciferae, alternative scientific name of the mustard family, from Late Latin crucifer (from the family's crosslike four-petaled flowers typically borne at the end of stalks ).]

cru·cifer·ous (-sĭfər-əs) adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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