cypress

Definition

An evergreen coniferous tree with flattened shoots bearing small scale-like leaves, whose dark foliage is sometimes associated with mourning, in family Cupressaceae, especially the genera Cupressus and Chamaecyparis.

Etymology

From Middle English cipres, from Old French cipres (French cyprès), from Late Latin cypressus; compare Hebrew גֹּפֶר (gōp̄er), the name of the tree whose wood was used to make the ark (Genesis. vi:14), also κύπρος (relating to aromatic pitch).

Example Sentences

• "The plain appears like paradiſe reſtored, where the proud cypreſs and tall arreca ſeem walking by the margin of the paſſing ſtream.."
• "Have a tree or two the witches particularly like, such as the alder, larch, cypress and hemlock; then, to counteract any possible evil effects, there must be a holly, yew, hazel, elder, mountain ash or juniper."