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e·del·weiss

(ādəl-vīs′, -wīs′)

A European alpine plant (Leontopodium alpinum) in the composite family, having leaves covered with whitish down and small flower heads surrounded by conspicuous whitish bracts.

[German : edel, noble (from Middle High German edele, from Old High German edili) + weiss, white (from Middle High German wīz, from Old High German wīz, hwīz; see kweit- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).]

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edelweiss

Leontopodium alpinum

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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