deflorate

[Low Lat. defloratus, from Lat. defloreo =to lose its blo oms: de away, from, and flos (gen it. flor is ) = a flower.] Bot .: An epithet applied to a flower when it has discharged its far in, pollen, or fecundating dust; also to a plant when its flowers have fallen. dě-flör-a-tion. s. [Fr. déflor at i on, from Low Lat. defloratus.] 1. Lit .: The act of def louring; the taking away of a woman's virginity; ravishing. 2. Fig.: A selection of the most beautiful and val. uable parts of anything. "The laws of Normandy are, in a great measure, the defloration of the English laws, and a transcript of them." -Hale . "The herald letters riven." - Pit scottie (ed. 1768), p. 137. IMG:content-2040.png:[blocks in formation] deforcement