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• Althaea
  Althaea

  noun

  wife of Oeneus and mother of Toxeus, Tydeus, Meleager, and Deianira.
• althaea
  althaea

  noun

  any Eurasian plant of the malvaceous genus Althaea, such as the hollyhock, having tall spikes of showy white, yellow, or red flowers

Althaea

American  

[al-thee-uh] / ælˈθi ə /

noun

Classical Mythology.

1. wife of Oeneus and mother of Toxeus, Tydeus, Meleager, and Deianira.

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althaea British  

/ ælˈθiːə /

noun

1. any Eurasian plant of the malvaceous genus Althaea, such as the hollyhock, having tall spikes of showy white, yellow, or red flowers

2. another name for rose of Sharon

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Etymology

Origin of althaea

C17: from Latin althaea, from Greek althaia marsh mallow (literally: healing plant), from Greek althein to heal

Example Sentences

When marshmallows were originally conceived in ancient Egypt, they were derived from a plant called Althaea officinalis and utilized as an herbal medicine.

From Salon • Nov. 21, 2023

Ancient Egyptian royalty ate the sap of Althaea officinalis, a mallow plant that grows in marshes, mixed with nuts and honey.

From Washington Post

As did the fatal brand Althaea burn'd, Unto the prince's heart of Calydon.

From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham

Miss Essie declares herself to be a purple Althaea.

From Say and Seal, Volume II by Warner, Susan

Althaea root is sometimes employed externally for softening and maturing hard tumours: chewed, it is said to give ease in difficult dentition of children.

From The Botanist's Companion, Volume II by Salisbury, William