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Dictionary Language resources

centaury

Syllabification: (cen·tau·ry)

Pronunciation: /ˈsenˌtôrē/

Definition of centaury

noun (plural centauries)

a widely distributed herbaceous plant of the gentian family, typically having pink petals atop long calyx tubes.
- Centaurium and related genera, family Gentianaceae: many species, including the wild C. pulchellum and the cultivated ornamental C. scilloides

Origin:

late Middle English: from late Latin centaurea, based on Greek kentauros 'centaur' (because its medicinal properties were said to have been discovered by the centaur Chiron)