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a·zal·ea

(ə-zālyə)

Any of various shrubs of the genus Rhododendron in the heath family, having showy, variously colored flowers.

[Greek azaleā, from feminine of azaleos, dry (so called because it grows in dry soil or from the texture of its wood); see as- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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azalea

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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