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

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

From this hero is derived the name of the plant centaury, owing to a legend of its having been used with success as a healing application to a wound in Chiron's foot.

From Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery by Lawrence, Robert Means

At the foot of a sunny wall, under the budding rosettes of the panicled centaury, I find a fair supply of the precious Grey Worm or its equivalent.

From More Hunting Wasps by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander

In the third period, they sought to overcome the wasting of strength in the system by means of tonic and nutritious drinks, decoctions of centaury, Jesuit's bark, juniper berries, &c.

From On the cattle plague: or, Contagious typhus in horned cattle. Its history, origin, description, and treatment by Bourguignon, Honor?