pansy

From Middle French pensée (“thought”), as the plant resembles someone that is in deep thought, with a lowered head. Doublet of pensée.

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• IPA^(key): /ˈpæn.zi/
• Rhymes: -ænzi

Purple pansy

pansy (plural pansies)

1. A cultivated flowering plant, derived by hybridization within species Viola tricolor.
   • 1697, Virgil, “The Second Pastoral. Or, Alexis.”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 6:

     The Daughters of the Flood have ſearch'd the Mead / For Violets pale, and cropt the Poppy's Head: / The Short Narciſſus and fair Daffodil, / Pancies to pleaſe the Sight, and Caſſia ſvveet to ſmell: […]

   • 1920, Katherine Mansfield [pseudonym; Kathleen Mansfield Murry], “Revelations”, in Bliss and Other Stories, London: Constable & Company, published 1920, →OCLC, page 271:

     Oh, what a perfect thought. Lilies-of-the-valley, and white pansies, double white violets and white velvet ribbon… From an unknown friend. … From one who understands. … For a Little Girl.

2. A deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.

   pansy:  

3. Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Junonia.

   Synonym: argus

4. (derogatory, colloquial) A timid, weak man or boy; a wuss.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:milksop

5. (derogatory, colloquial, dated) A male homosexual, especially one who is effeminate.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:male homosexual, Thesaurus:effeminate man

• pancy (obsolete)

pansy (not comparable)

1. Wimpy; spineless; feeble.
2. Of a deep purple colour, like that of the pansy.

• blue pansy
• pansified
• pansification
• wild pansy

• pensive
• poise
• peso

pansy (third-person singular simple present pansies, present participle pansying, simple past and past participle pansied)

1. (slang, intransitive, usually with "around" or "about") To mess about; to fail to get things done.

• heartsease
• Johnny-jump-up
• Appendix:Colors

• Jonathon Green (2024) “pansy n.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang
• Jonathon Green (2024) “pansy adj.”, in Green’s Dictionary of Slang