althea

¹

Or al·thae·a

[al-thee-uh]

noun

1. the rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus.

2. any plant belonging to the genus Althaea, of the mallow family, having lobed leaves and showy flowers in a spikelike cluster, including the hollyhocks and marsh mallows.

Althea

²

[al-thee-uh]

noun

1. a first name: from a Greek word meaning “wholesome.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of althea¹

1660–70; < New Latin, Latin althaea < Greek althaíā marsh mallow

Example Sentences

First she took a magnificent white tea-rose, and pulled off all its thorns, tying around it instead some leaves of althea.

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This yard had a double hedge of althea bushes which led into the back part of the Casino grounds.

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It was a glorious night, and after I had washed and dressed the dear child for his grave, I went out and cut handfuls of white altheas, and strewed them over the little form.

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The window where they stood was shaded on the outside by privet and althea bushes: it opened to the ground, and a sandy little footpath ran directly to the river, where her boat was moored.

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Beyond a paling fence and a sandy, careworn garden of altheas and dwarf-box stood broadside to them a very plain, two-story house of uncoursed gray rubble, whose open door sent forth no welcoming gleam.

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