centaury

American  

[sen-taw-ree] / ˈsɛn tɔ ri /

noun

plural

centauries

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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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

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

They are the yellow-flowered centaury, the mountain centaury, the star thistle and the rough centaury: the first predominates.

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

Little harebells, and pink centaury bordered the pathway.

From Fairy Tales from the German Forests by Arndt, Margaret