betony

[ bet-n-ee ]

/ ˈbɛt n i /

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noun, plural bet·o·nies.

a plant, Stachys (formerly Betonica) officinalis, of the mint family, having hairy leaves and dense spikes of purple flowers, formerly used in medicine and dyeing.

any of various similar plants, especially of the genus Pedicularis.

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Origin of betony

First recorded before 1000; late Middle English; Middle English betayny, betanie, from Medieval Latin betōnia, re-formation of Latin betōnica (Pliny), in earlier readings vettōnica (herba) “Vettonic (herb)” (Vettōn(ēs) “an Iberian tribe” + -ica, feminine of -icus adjective suffix); compare Middle English beteyne, betoyne (from Anglo-French ), Old English bet(t)onice (from Latin ); see -ic

Words nearby betony

Betjeman, to blame, be, betoken, bet one's ass, bet on the wrong horse, betony, betook, torn between, be, touched by, be, betray, betrayal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use betony in a sentence

Make injections of a decoction of origane mugwort, dog's mercury, betony, and eggs; inject into the womb with a female syringe.
The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher|Anonymous
If she be of full habit of body open a vein, after preparing her with syrup of betony, calamint, hyssop and feverfew.
The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher|Anonymous
First came a liquor made with betony, "for the sake of those who could not accustom themselves to the bitter taste of coffee."
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers
Betony is a herb belonging to the mint family, and its root was formerly employed in medicine as an emetic or purgative.
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers

After a time, when the corn is ripening, the herb betony flowers on the mounds under the oaks.
Nature Near London|Richard Jefferies

British Dictionary definitions for betony

betony

/ (ˈbɛtənɪ) /

noun plural -nies

a Eurasian plant, Stachys (or Betonica) officinalis, with a spike of reddish-purple flowers, formerly used in medicine and dyeing: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

any of several related plants of the genus Stachys

wood betony a North American scrophulariaceous plant, Pedicularis canadensisSee also lousewort

Word Origin for betony

C14: from Old French betoine, from Latin betonica, variant of vettonica, probably named after the Vettones, an ancient Iberian tribe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012