Loosestrife Definition

lo͝osstrīf

noun

Any of a genus (Lythrum) of plants of the loosestrife family, esp. purple loosestrife (L. salicaria) with spikes of purple flowers.

Webster's New World

Any of a genus (Lysimachia) of plants of the primrose family, with leafy stems and loose spikes of white, rose, or yellow flowers.

Webster's New World

adjective

Designating a family (Lythraceae, order Myrtales) of chiefly tropical dicotyledonous plants, including henna.

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Loosestrife

Singular:

loosestrife

Plural:

loosestrifes

Mistranslation of Latin lȳsimachīa (as if from Greek lusis loosening) (Greek makhē battle) from Greek lūsimakheios perhaps after Lūsimakhos , Lysimachos, Greek physician of the fifth or fourth century bc

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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