| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024cen•tau•ry (sen′tô rē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ries. - Plant Biologyany of various plants belonging to the genus Centaurium, of the gentian family, having clusters of small pink or red flowers.
- Plant Biologyany of several other plants of the genera Centaurea and Sabatia.
- Greek kentaúria, neuter plural (taken in Medieval Latin as feminine singular) of kentaúrion, noun, nominal use of neuter of kentaúrios (adjective, adjectival), equivalent. to kéntaur(os) centaur + -ios adjective, adjectival suffix; said to be in reference to the centaur Chiron, known for his knowledge of medicinal plants
- Medieval Latin centauria, apparently
- Middle English, Old English centaurie bef. 1000
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: centaury /ˈsɛntɔːrɪ/ n ( pl -ries)- any Eurasian plant of the genus Centaurium, esp C. erythraea, having purplish-pink flowers and formerly believed to have medicinal properties: family Gentianaceae
Etymology: 14th Century: ultimately from Greek Kentauros the Centaur; from the legend that Chiron the Centaur divulged its healing properties |