reseda

Noun

reseda (plural resedas)

1. Any of various plants of the genus Reseda having small, pale grayish green flowers, such as dyer's rocket (Reseda luteola) and mignonette (Reseda odorata).
   • Reſeda […] An herbe that hath a ſtalke like knots and joynts, a leafe like a nettle, and white in the middle.[1640, John Rider; Francis Holy-Oke [i.e., Francis Holyoake], “Reseda”, in Riders Dictionarie, Corrected and Augmented with the Addition of Many Hundred Words Both out of the Law, and out of the...
   • This genus of plants, of which we have twelve species, was named Reseda by the ancients, from resedare to assuage, because some of the species were esteemed good for mitigating pains; and we learn from Pliny, that the Reseda was considered to possess even the power of charming away many disorders....1850 September, “Flora Historica” [pseudonym], “MIGNONETTE.—RESEDA ODORATA.”, in Joseph Harrison, editor, The Floricultural Cabinet, and Florists’ Magazine, volume XVIII, number 45 (New Series)...
2. (specifically) Mignonette (Reseda odorata).
   • About the middle of this month, if the ſeaſon proves favourable, you may plant out your hardy annuals, ſuch as Marvel of Peru, Sweet Sultan, China After or Starwort, Sweet Reſeda called Mignonette d'Egypt, French and African Marigolds, Female Balſamine, Capſicum, Brown Jolly, and ſeveral other...1757, Philip Miller, “May”, in The Gardeners Kalendar; Directing what Works are Necessary to be Done Every Month in the Kitchen, Fruit, and Pleasure-Gardens, as also in the Conservatory and Nursery....
   • Reseda or mignonette is grown in the Grasse region [of France]. The tendency for green notes in recent years has given fresh interest to the reseda note. Absolute oil of reseda has an odour recalling that of violet leaves, but with a rather fine 'powdery' background and a suggestion of rose and a...[2003], H. Panda, “Raw Materials: Products of Natural Origin”, in The Complete Technology Book on Herbal Perfumes & Cosmetics, New Delhi: Ajay Kr. Gupta, National Institute of Industrial Research...
3. A pale greyish-green colour like the flowers of a reseda plant; mignonette.
   • This number contains a lis of the manufacturers of tinctorial chemicals to whom prizes have been awarded at the Vienna Exhibition. We find no English name in the catalogue. There are receipts for dyeing wool a bright green; for a finish for pack-thread; for a reseda on genappe; a brown on silk; a...1873 September 26, “[Supplement to the Chemical News. Chemical Notices from Foreign Sources. Reimann’s Färber Zeitung.] No. 31, 1873”, in William Crookes, editor, The Chemical News and Journal of...

Adjective

reseda (not comparable)

1. Having a pale greyish-green colour like the flowers of a reseda plant; mignonette.
   • By mixing a weaker bath than the one indicated the cotton dyes up a dark green, and the wool acquires a dull and weak reseda shade.1876 September, M. Hommey, “6. Experiments upon the Uses of Aniline Black, by Vanadium, in Dyeing Woollen and Mixed Tissues”, in Charles O'Neill, editor, The Textile Colourist: A Monthly Journal of...
   • Sateens a 1s. 4½d., 32in. wide, will be very useful, and always look nice, whether as whole or part dresses. There is one of French grey that has a most satin like surface, and another of reseda shade, which is again likely to have a run as a fashionable colour.1877 March 28, “The Boudoir. Spring Novelties.”, in The Bazaar, the Exchange and Mart, and Journal of the Household, volume XVI, London: [s.n.] 32, Wellington-Street, Strand, W.C., →OCLC, pages...

Proper noun capitalized: Reseda

IPA/rəˈsiːdə/

Reseda

1. A neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, United States.
   • It's a long day, livin' in Reseda / There's a freeway, runnin' through the yard1989, “Free Fallin'”, in Full Moon Fever, performed by Tom Petty
   • You are going to Reseda to make love to a model from Ohio / Whose real name you don’t know1994, “Screenwriter's Blues”, in Ruby Vroom, performed by Soul Coughing