Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
forget-me-not [fer-get-mee-not] ExamplesWord Origin noun
- either of two small Old World plants, Myosotis sylvatica or M. scorpioides, of the borage family, having a light-blue flower commonly regarded as an emblem of constancy and friendship.
- any of several other plants of the genus Myosotis.
- any of various similar plants, especially of the genus Anchusa or Cynoglossum.
Origin of forget-me-not 1525–35; translation of Middle French ne m’oubliez mye Also called scorpion grass for def 1, 2 Examples from the Web for forget-me-not Historical Examples of forget-me-not
She flung off the forget-me-not wreath and turned to Rosamund.
L. T. Meade
The last one I went to I had a great success as a forget-me-not.
Ada Leverson
She stared at him, her forget-me-not eyes dilating with dismay.
Margaret Deland
Could you tell me the origin of the name “Forget-me-not” as applied to flowers?
Harper’s Young People, June 8, 1880
Various
He opened it eagerly, and a sprig of forget-me-not fell into his hand.
Houghton Townley
British Dictionary definitions for forget-me-not forget-me-not noun
- any temperate low-growing plant of the mainly European boraginaceous genus Myosotis, having clusters of small typically blue flowersAlso called: scorpion grass
Word Origin and History for forget-me-not n.
the flowering plant Myosotis palustris, 1530s, from Old French ne m’oubliez mye; in 15c. the flower was supposed to ensure that those wearing it should never be forgotten by their lovers. Similar loan-translations took the name into other languages, cf. German Vergißmeinnicht, Swedish forgätmigej, Hungarian nefelejcs, Czech nezabudka.