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FOXGLOVE

FOKS-gluv

Noun
Intermediate Level
8 Letters

Quick Definition

FOXGLOVE A tall plant with tubular purple, pink, or white flowers; source of the heart medicine digitalis.

Scrabble Points

22

Points in Scrabble

Base tile values • No multipliers applied

💡 Pro Tip:

Playing FOXGLOVE uses all tiles (7 from rack + 1 on board), earning a 50-point bingo bonus in Scrabble! Total potential: $72 points before multipliers.

Definition & Meaning

Foxglove is a flowering plant (genus Digitalis) known for its tall spikes of tubular, bell-shaped flowers that resemble the fingers of a glove. Native to Europe, these biennial or perennial plants are popular in gardens for their dramatic appearance and ability to attract bees and hummingbirds.

Medically, foxglove is the source of digitalis, a powerful heart medication used to treat heart failure and irregular heartbeat. The plant contains cardiac glycosides, particularly digoxin and digitoxin, which strengthen heart contractions but are highly toxic in larger doses.

In Scrabble, FOXGLOVE presents an impressive 8-letter word containing both F and X, offering substantial scoring potential. While longer words can be harder to place, the familiar garden plant name makes it more accessible than obscure technical terms.

The plant embodies the dual nature of many natural substances - both beautiful and deadly, healing and harmful. Every part of the foxglove is poisonous if ingested, yet it has saved countless lives as a refined medication. This paradox has made it a symbol in literature and folklore.

Did You Know?

  • William Withering discovered foxglove's medical use in 1775 by studying a folk remedy.
  • Van Gogh's yellow-tinted vision may have been caused by digitalis treatment.
  • Foxgloves are called 'dead man's bells' in some regions due to their toxicity.
  • The plant can grow up to 6 feet tall and produce over 2 million seeds.

Etymology & Origin

The name 'foxglove' dates from Anglo-Saxon times. The 'fox' element's origin is debated - it may refer to 'folk's glove' (fairy folk), or literally fox's glove, perhaps because the flowers resemble glove fingers. The scientific name 'Digitalis' comes from Latin 'digitus' (finger), referring to the flower shape.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Words with similar meaning

DIGITALIS

Scientific name

FAIRY BELLS

Folk name

WITCH'S GLOVES

Traditional name

Antonyms

Words with opposite meaning

Word Forms & Variations

Plural Form

foxgloves

Related Terms

foxglove plant
purple foxglove
foxglove digitalis

Common Phrases & Collocations

Frequent Combinations

  • foxglove poisoning

    Digitalis toxicity

  • purple foxglove

    Common garden variety

  • foxglove tea

    Dangerous folk remedy

In Context

    Letter Analysis & Game Details

    Letter Distribution

    F (4 pts)
    1x
    O (1 pts)
    2x
    X (8 pts)
    1x
    G (2 pts)
    1x
    L (1 pts)
    1x
    V (4 pts)
    1x
    E (1 pts)
    1x

    Total base points: 22 (Scrabble)

    Vowels: 3 | Consonants: 5

    Word Building

    Rhyming Words

    DOVE
    LOVE
    ABOVE
    SHOVE
    THEREOF

    Similar 8-Letter Words

    Other high-scoring 8-letter words (Scrabble)

    Word Game Strategy

    Playing FOXGLOVE

    • 1.8-letter word needs open board
    • 2.F and X provide high value
    • 3.Compound word offers flexibility
    • 4.Garden terms often valid
    • 5.Save for late game with space

    Strategic Considerations

    Focus on maximizing tile placement and multipliers.

    Usage Examples in Context

    "The cottage garden featured tall purple foxgloves against the white fence."

    "Digitalis extracted from foxglove has been used as heart medicine since 1785."

    "FOXGLOVE across two double word scores would be a game-winning play."

    Cultural Impact & Modern Usage

    Foxglove bridges the natural and medical worlds, appearing in cottage gardens and cardiac units alike. Its discovery as a heart medicine pioneered the field of pharmacology. In folklore and literature, it's associated with fairies and magic, while in medicine, it represents the fine line between poison and cure.

    Common Mistakes & Confusions

    • Thinking it's safe to handle:Wear gloves; sap can cause reactions
    • Making foxglove tea:Extremely dangerous - can be fatal
    • Spelling as two words:FOXGLOVE is one word

    Related Words to Explore

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