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pe·tu·nia

(pĭ-tnyə, -tyn-)

1. Any of various widely cultivated South American plants of the genus Petunia of the nightshade family, having funnel-shaped flowers in a variety of colors.

2. A moderate to dark purple.

[New Latin Petunia, genus name, from obsolete French pétun, tobacco, from Portuguese petum, of Tupí-Guaraní origin.]

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petunia

Petunia sp.

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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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