n. Any of numerous herbs of the genus Saxifraga, having small, variously colored flowers and leaves that often form a basal rosette. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin (herba) saxifraga, maidenhair fern, feminine of Latin saxifragus, rock-breaking (from its being found growing in rock crevices) : saxum, rock; see sek- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + frangere, frag-, to break; see bhreg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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