Melissa
See also: melissa and Mélissa
Translingual
Etymology
Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa, “honey bee”) (compare Melissa), which in turn comes from μέλι (méli, “honey”).
Proper noun
Melissa f
- A taxonomic genus within the family Lamiaceae – lemon balm.
Hypernyms
- (genus): Eukaryota - superkingdom; Plantae - kingdom; Viridiplantae - subkingdom; Streptophyta - infrakingdom; Embryophyta - superphylum; Tracheophyta - phylum; Spermatophytina - subphylum; angiosperms, eudicots, core eudicots, asterids, euasterids I - clades; Lamiales - order; Lamiaceae - family; Nepetoideae - subfamily; Mentheae - tribe; Salvinae - subtribe
Hyponyms
- (genus): Melissa officinalis - type species; Melissa axillaris, Melissa bicornis, Melissa flava, Melissa yunnanensis - other species
References
- Melissa (plant) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- Melissa on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
- Melissa (Lamiaceae) on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons
- Melissa at USDA Plants database
English
Etymology
From Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa, “bee, honey, or honeybee”). In Ireland it is sometimes used as a feminine form of the Gaelic male name Maol Íosa (literally “servant of Jesus”).
Pronunciation
- (US) IPA(key): /məˈlɪsə/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - Rhymes: -ɪsə
Proper noun
Melissa
- (Greek mythology) Bee-nymph in Greek mythology.
- A female given name from Ancient Greek. Popular in the latter half of the 20th century.
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, OCLC 960102938:
- And her owne handmayd, that Melissa hight / Appointed to attend her dewly day and night
- 1840 April – 1841 November, Charles Dickens, “(please specify the chapter number or name)”, in The Old Curiosity Shop. A Tale. […], London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1841, OCLC 1109979921:
- Miss Melissa Wackles was the eldest daughter, Miss Sophy the next, and Miss Jane the youngest.
- 1959, Nicholas Blake, The Widow's Cruise, page 9:
- - - - by Mrs. Melissa Blaydon and Miss Ianthe Ambrose.
"Well, they may be sisters," said Nigel. "Those elegant, classical Christian names suggest one father.
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Translations
female given name
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See also
- Melitta (< μέλιττα (mélitta))
Anagrams
- Esmails, Maisels, Milases, Salemis, aimless, mesails, samiels, seismal
Danish
Proper noun
Melissa
- a female given name, equivalent to English Melissa
German
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Melissa
- a female given name, equivalent to English Melissa
Italian
Proper noun
Melissa f
- a female given name, equivalent to English Melissa
Anagrams
- limasse, messali
Portuguese
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin Melissa, from Ancient Greek Μέλισσα (Mélissa), from μέλισσα (mélissa, “bee”).
Pronunciation
- (Brazil) IPA(key): /meˈli.sɐ/
- (Southern Brazil) IPA(key): /meˈli.sa/
- (Portugal) IPA(key): /mɨˈli.sɐ/
Proper noun
Melissa f
- a female given name from Ancient Greek, equivalent to English Melissa
- (Greek mythology) Melissa (nymph who discovered and taught the use of honey)
Swedish
Proper noun
Melissa c (genitive Melissas)
- a female given name, equivalent to English Melissa