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centaury

(sen′tô′rē)

any of a genus (Centaurium) of small plants of the gentian family, with flat clusters of red or rose flowers

Origin: ME centaurie < ML centauria < L centaureum < Gr kentaureion < Kentauros, centaur: the centaur Chiron was said to have discovered medicinal properties of the plant

See centaury in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. cen·tau·ries

Any of several herbs of the genus Centaurium, especially a Eurasian species (C. erythraea) that has clusters of pink flowers and has long been used in herbal medicine.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English centaurie

Origin: , from Latin centaurēum

Origin: , from Greek kentaureion

Origin: , from Kentauros, centaur (from the legend that the plant's medicinal properties were discovered by the centaur Chiron)

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