Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A taxonomic genus within the tribe Mentheaelemon balm.
  • proper noun Greek mythology Bee-nymph in Greek mythology.
  • proper noun A female given name. Popular in the latter half of the 20th century.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Ancient Greek μέλισσα (melissa, "honey bee") (compare Melissa), which in turn comes from μέλι (meli, "honey").

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa, "bee, honey, honeybee")

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Melissa.

Examples

  • MELISSA: He called and he said Melissa, are you ready to be a mother?

    CNN Transcript Jan 2, 2004 2004

  • BALM, oil of Balm, called also oil of Melissa, is obtained by distilling the leaves of the _Melissa officinalis_ with water; it comes from the still tap with the condensed steam or water, from which it is separated with the tap funnel.

    The Art of Perfumery And Methods of Obtaining the Odors of Plants George William Septimus Piesse 1851

  • MELISSA EGAN (cast) a DeSales University senior, Melissa has recently returned from the magical city of Prague where she spent a semester studying at Univerzita Karlova.

    BroadwayWorld.com Featured Content 2009

  • When Anna reached the last count of murder, he looked up on hearing the name Melissa Stephens.

    Above Suspicion Lynda La Plante 2004

  • When Anna reached the last count of murder, he looked up on hearing the name Melissa Stephens.

    Above Suspicion Lynda La Plante 2004

  • On Wednesday morning, the @ChryslerAutos Twitter feed carried a complaint about bad drivers in Detroit that included a word Melissa Leo found perfectly appropriate for her acceptance speech at this year's Oscars but which Chrysler execs were less enthusiastic about.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Simon Houpt 2011

  • (b) ultimately turn them into something called an "ex-gay" or "post-gay" (the label Melissa Fryrear herself uses).

    Good As You 2008

  • GIFFORD: Well, the bizarre thing, Melissa, is that when you just ask people what they think about it, you get one of two answers.

    China Cracks Down On Dissidents 2010

  • GIFFORD: Well, the bizarre thing, Melissa, is that when you just ask people what they think about it, you get one of two answers.

    China Cracks Down On Dissidents 2010

  • GIFFORD: Well, the bizarre thing, Melissa, is that when you just ask people what they think about it, you get one of two answers.

    China Cracks Down On Dissidents 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.