dittany

[ dit-n-ee ]

noun

, plural dit·ta·nies.

1. a Cretan plant, Origanum dictamnus, of the mint family, having spikes of purple flowers and formerly believed to have medicinal qualities.
2. Also called stone mint. a North American plant, Cunila origanoides, of the mint family, bearing clusters of purplish flowers.
3. gas plant.

dittany

/ ˈdɪtənɪ /

noun

1. an aromatic Cretan plant, Origanum dictamnus , with pink drooping flowers: formerly credited with great medicinal properties: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
2. Also calledstone mint a North American labiate plant, Cunila origanoides, with clusters of purplish flowers
3. another name for gas plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of dittany¹

1350–1400; Middle English ditane, detany < Old French dita ( i ) n < Latin dictamnus, dictamnum < Greek díktamnon, perhaps akin to Díktē, a mountain in Crete where the herb abounded

Word History and Origins

Origin of dittany¹

C14: from Old French ditan, from Latin dictamnus, from Greek diktamnon, perhaps from Diktē, mountain in Crete

Example Sentences

But when Venus saw how grievously her son was troubled, she brought from348 Ida, which is a mountain of Crete, the herb dittany.

From Project Gutenberg

But when Venus saw how grievously her son was troubled, she brought from Ida, which is a mountain of Crete, the herb dittany.

From Project Gutenberg

There must be marchantia under the spray of the one, and possibly dittany in the peat of the other.

From Project Gutenberg

According to Virgil, Venus healed the wounded neas with Dittany.

From Project Gutenberg

Fraxinella, frak-si-nel′a, n. a common name for cultivated species of dittany.

From Project Gutenberg