Tropeolum majus nanus

Well, as I understand binomial nomenclature, the Tropaeolum part is the genus, and the species is majus, with a sub-species word thrown in. Tropaeolum majus would mean 'greater tropaeolum' in Latin. The word magnus, -a, -um 'great' is irregular in forming its comparative: major, majus. (In the first citation form the -us ending is for the masculine, the -a for the feminine, and the -um neuter; in the second one, because it belongs to a different declension the ending -or is for masculine and feminine and -us for neuter.) The nanus does mean 'dwarf'. But it isn't an adjective and it isn't neuter like the preceding two words. The word tropaeum in Latin means 'trophy, monument to victory' and is a loan from Greek τροπαιον (tropaion) which is related to τροπη (tropē) 'turning'. The ending -olum may be a diminutive suffix: 'little trophy'.

Ceci n'est pas un seing.