PARA-384-Lavender: Estienne

Caretaker Status: Unknown

Affiliated companion(s): none

Level 2 - concrete
Word: Lavender (Flower)

Origin:
"Fragrant plant of the mint family," c. 1300, from Anglo-French lavendre, Old French lavendre "the lavender plant," from Medieval Latin lavendula "lavender" (10c.), perhaps from Latin lividus "bluish, livid" (see livid). If so, it probably was associated with French lavande, Italian lavanda "a washing" (from Latin lavare "to wash;" from PIE root *leue- "to wash") because it was used to scent washed fabrics and as a bath perfume.

The adjective meaning "of a pale purple color, of the color of lavender flowers" is from 1840; as a noun in the color sense from 1882.
An identical Middle English word meant "laundress, washerwoman;" also, apparently, "prostitute, whore; camp follower" and is attested as a surname from early 13c.

Definition:
A small aromatic evergreen shrub of the mint family, with narrow leaves and bluish-purple flowers. Lavender has been widely used in perfumery and medicine since ancient times.

Magic Status: 1 - Neophyte
Tier 1 - Lavender growing from back/crest/cheeks grows/regrows and can be picked.

Wisdom Status: 0 - Unaware