See Also:

indigenous (iou) and Fig (medicine)


indigenous (iou)



indigenous adjective. M17.
[from Latin indigena (a) native from indi- strengthened form of in- IN-2 + -gena from base of gignere beget: see -OUS.]
Born or produced in a particular land or region; (esp. of flora and fauna) native or belonging naturally to (a region, a soil, etc.), not introduced. M17.
Rider Haggard The indigenous flora and fauna of Kukuanaland. C. Stead He could tell the indigenous Malays from the new imports from India. C. Francis My..Garden turned out to have only four plants which are indigenous to Britain.
b. transf. & fig. Inborn, innate. M19.
L. Trilling Poetry is indigenous to the very constitution of the mind.
Of, pertaining to, or concerned with the native inhabitants of a region. M19.
H. Read Objects made by uncultured peoples in accordance with a native and indigenous tradition. N. Chomsky What is remarkable about the Indochina war is the inability of the American invaders to establish indigenous governments that can rule effectively.
indigenously adverb M19.
indigenousness noun L19.

Fig (medicine)


fig
Figure; dress; array. "Were they all in full fig, the females with feathers on their heads, the males with chapeaux bras?" (Prof. Wilson)

1. <botany> A small fruit tree (Ficus Carica) with large leaves, known from the remotest antiquity. It was probably native from Syria westward to the Canary Islands.

2. The fruit of a fig tree, which is of round or oblong shape, and of various colours.

The fruit of a fig tree is really the hollow end of a stem, and bears numerous achenia inside the cavity. Many species have little, hard, inedible figs, and in only a few does the fruit become soft and pulpy. The fruit of the cultivated varieties is much prized in its fresh state, and also when dried or preserved. See Caprification.

3. A small piece of tobacco.

4. The value of a fig, practically nothing; a fico; used in scorn or contempt. "A fig for Peter." Cochineal fig. See Conchineal fig. Fig dust, a preparation of fine oatmeal for feeding caged birds. Fig faun, one of a class of rural deities or monsters supposed to live on figs. "Therefore shall dragons dwell there with the fig fauns.

<zoology>" Fig gnat, a small fly said to be injurious to figs. Fig leaf, the leaf tree; hence, in allusion to the first clothing of Adam and Eve (Genesis III.7), a covering for a thing that ought to be concealed; especially, an inadequate covering; a symbol for affected modesty.

<botany> Fig marigold, any tree of the genus Ficus, but especially F. Carica which produces the fig of commerce.

Origin: F. Figue the fruit of the tree, Pr. Figa, fr. L. Ficus fig tree, fig. Cf. Fico.

Source: Websters Dictionary