Veronica

Ve·ron·i·ca  (v-rn-k), Saint

A woman of Jerusalem who gave Jesus her head-cloth to wipe his face as he bore the cross to Calvary.

---

ve·ron·i·ca ¹  (v-rn-k)

n.

Any of various plants of the genus Veronica, which includes the speedwells.

---

[New Latin Veronica, genus name.]

---

ve·ron·i·ca ²  (v-rn-k)

n.

1.

a. According to popular legend, an image of the face of Jesus as impressed on the handkerchief offered to him by Saint Veronica on the road to Calvary.

b. The handkerchief itself.

2. A cloth bearing a representation of Jesus's face.

---

[Medieval Latin, perhaps alteration of vra conica, true image : Latin vra, feminine of vrus, true; see very + Latin conica, feminine of conicus, of an image (from Greek eikonikos, from eikn, image; see icon).]

---

ve·ron·i·ca ³  (v-rn-k)

n.

A maneuver in bullfighting in which the matador stands with both feet fixed in position and swings the cape slowly away from the charging bull.

---

[Spanish, from veronica, the veronica (from the gesture Saint Veronica made), from Medieval Latin; see veronica².]

---

veronica

Noun

a plant with small blue, pink, or white flowers [perhaps from the name Veronica]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

veronica - any plant of the genus Veronica       speedwell flower - a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms genus Veronica - widespread genus of herbs with pink or white or blue or purple flowers: speedwell field speedwell, Veronica agrestis - European plant with minute axillary blue flowers on long stalks; widely naturalized in America corn speedwell, Veronica arvensis - erect or procumbent blue-flowered annual found in waste places of Europe and America bird's eye, germander speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys - Old World plant with axillary racemes of blue-and-white flowers common speedwell, gypsyweed, Veronica officinalis - common hairy European perennial with pale blue or lilac flowers in axillary racemes purslane speedwell, Veronica peregrina - North American annual with small white flowers widely naturalized as a weed in South America and Europe thyme-leaved speedwell, Veronica serpyllifolia - perennial decumbent herb having small opposite leaves and racemes of blue flowers; throughout Eurasia and the New World