alvar

1 of 2

noun (1)

al·​var

ˈȯlˌvär

plural -s

: the plant community consisting typically of mosses and calciphilous herbaceous plants that grows on steppelike shallow alkaline soils overlying Scandinavian limestones

Alvar

2 of 2

noun (2)

Al·​var

ˈalˌvär,

ˈäl-

plural -s

: one of a group of southern Indian Vaishnava saints and devotional writers of the 7th to 9th centuries a.d.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Swedish ålvar

Noun (2)

Tamil Ār̤vār, from ār̤- to sink, be immersed in meditation

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1917, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1865, in the meaning defined above

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