tɔ noun, plural cen·tau·ries.
1.
any of various plants belonging to the genus Centaurium, of the gentian family, having clusters of small pink or red flowers.
2.
any of several other plants of the genera Centaurea and Sabatia.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English, Old English centaurie < Medieval Latin centauria, apparently < Greek kentaúria, neuter plural (taken in ML as feminine singular) of kentaúrion, noun use of neuter of kentaúrios (adj.), equivalent to kéntaur(os) centaur + -ios adj. suffix; said to be in reference to the centaur Chiron, known for his knowledge of medicinal plants
before 1000; Middle English, Old English centaurie < Medieval Latin centauria, apparently < Greek kentaúria, neuter plural (taken in ML as feminine singular) of kentaúrion, noun use of neuter of kentaúrios (adj.), equivalent to kéntaur(os) centaur + -ios adj. suffix; said to be in reference to the centaur Chiron, known for his knowledge of medicinal plants
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To centaury
00:10
Centaury
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
centaury (ˈsɛntɔːrɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -ries | |
| 1. | any Eurasian plant of the genus Centaurium, esp C. erythraea, having purplish-pink flowers and formerly believed to have medicinal properties: family Gentianaceae |
| 2. | any plant of the genus Centaurea, which includes the cornflower and knapweed: family Compositae (composites) |
| [C14: ultimately from Greek Kentauros the Centaur; from the legend that Chiron the Centaur divulged its healing properties] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
centaury
small plant with red flowers (now usually erythraea Centaureum), late 14c., from M.L. centaurea, from L. centaureum, from Gk. kentaureion, from kentauros "centaur" (see centaur), so called because the plant's medicinal properties were discovered by Chiron the centaur. Ger.
Tausendgüldenkraut is based on a mistranslation of the L. word, as if from centum + aurum.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Related Searches
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
