centaury

American  

[sen-taw-ree] / ˈsɛn tɔ ri /

noun

• centauries
  plural

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.

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centaury British  

/ ˈsɛntɔːrɪ /

noun

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)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• centauries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of centaury

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English centaurie, from Medieval Latin centauria, apparently from Greek kentaúria, neuter plural (taken in Medieval Latin as feminine singular) of kentaúrion, noun use of neuter of kentaúrios (adjective), equivalent to kéntaur(os) “centaur” + -ios adjective suffix; said to be in reference to the centaur Chiron, known for his knowledge of medicinal plants; see Chiron ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

centaury centauries

The number and variety of plants increased over time, including locally rare species such as southern marsh orchid, greater tussock-sedge, yellow rattle and common centaury.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

In my hand is a steaming mug of Dr Stuart’s “Liver Detox” naturally caffeine-free tea, containing dandelion root, centaury herb and milk thistle.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 29, 2017

Sometimes they scuttled along open turf, colored like a tapestry meadow with self-heal, centaury and tormentil.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

The common clary and the Babylonian centaury, with which I have stocked the harmas, shall be the harvest-fields; the reaper shall be the Diadem Anthidium, the inmate of my reeds.

From Bramble-Bees and Others by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos

Take one part of gentian-root, two parts of centaury, distil them with ale in an alembic after you have bruised the gentian-roots and infused them well.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

Next, in respect of number, come the centauries, grim-looking one and all, bristling with prickles or starry halberds.

From The Wonders of Instinct Chapters in the Psychology of Insects by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos

After dinner we went out and sat together upon the bank of the noisy river; we sat in a meadow overgrown with centauries and sweet marjoram, recognizable in the darkness because of their penetrating odor.

From The Story of a Child by Caroline F. Smith

I see the first males appear in the middle of September, on the centauries.

From Bramble-Bees and Others by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos

She picks blue centauries, scarlet poppies, cuckoo-flowers, and buttercups, which she also knows as little chicks.

From Child Life In Town And Country 1909 by A. R. (Alfred Richard) Allinson

Next, in respect of number, come the centauries, grim looking one and all, bristling with prickles or starry halberds.

From The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos