thorn (n.)
- adherent
- adhesive
- affliction
- annoyance
- bane
- barb
- barnacle
- bother
- bramble
- brier
- bristle
- bugbear
- bulldog
- burden
- burr
- cactus
- calamity
- care
- catchweed
- cement
- cleavers
- cross
- curse
- death
- decal
- decalcomania
- destruction
- disease
- distress
- encumbrance
- evil
- gall
- glue
- grievance
- gunk
- harm
- infliction
- irritant
- irritation
- leech
- limpet
- load
- molasses
- mucilage
- needle
- nemesis
- nettle
- nuisance
- oppression
- paste
- pest
- pestilence
- plague
- plaster
- point
- prickle
- quill
- remora
- scourge
- sorrow
- spicule
- spiculum
- spike
- spikelet
- spine
- sticker
- syrup
- thistle
- torment
- torture
- trouble
- vexation
- visitation
- weight
- woe
- yucca
Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale.
A thorn in the flesh.
One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.
Her modest looks the cottage might adorn,
Sweet as the primrose peeps beneath the thorn.
But ne'er the rose without the thorn.
Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose.
Life let us cherish, while yet the taper glows,
And the fresh flow'ret pluck ere it close;
Why are we fond of toil and care?
Why choose the rankling thorn to wear?
But earthlier happy is the rose distill'd
Than that which withering on the virgin thorn
Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness.
