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lil·y

(lĭlē)

n. pl. lil·ies

1. Any of various plants of the genus Lilium, having variously colored, often trumpet-shaped flowers.

2. Any of various similar or related plants, such as the daylily or the water lily.

3. The flower of any of these plants.

[Middle English lilie, from Old English, from Latin līlium.]

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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