Definition of pansy

exculpate Definition: (verb) to free from blame or guilt. Petersons.com

Add Word of the Day to your personalized My Yahoo! page: About My Yahoo! and RSS »

Email this page to a friend

< panspermia

pant >

pan·sy    (pnz) KEY  

NOUN:
pl. pan·sies

1. Any of various plants of the genera Achimenes or Viola, especially V. tricolor or its hybrids, having flowers with velvety petals of various colors.
2. A deep to strong violet.
3. Offensive Slang
   1. Used as a disparaging term for a man or boy who is considered effeminate.
   2. Used as a disparaging term for a homosexual man.

---

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English pancy, from Old French pensee, thought, remembrance, pansy, from feminine past participle of penser, to think ; see pensive

Visit our partner's site

	Provided by Houghton Mifflin eReference -- Download this interactive reference software to your desktop computer

Search Dictionary:

More on Yahoo! Education

• Online and On-Campus Degree Programs     MBAs  -  Technology Management  -  Education  -  Health  -  More  • College & Grad School - A Comprehensive Guide     College Search  -  Test Prep  -  Application Tips  -  Scholarship Search