loosestrife

[ loos-strahyf ]

noun

1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Lysimachia, of the primrose family, having clusters of usually yellow flowers, as L. vulgaris garden loosestrife or L. quadrifolia whorled loosestrife.
2. any of several plants belonging to the genus Lythrum, of the loosestrife family.

loosestrife

/ ˈluːsˌstraɪf /

noun

1. any of various primulaceous plants of the genus Lysimachia, esp the yellow-flowered L. vulgaris ( yellow loosestrife ) See also moneywort
2. purple loosestrife
   a purple-flowered lythraceous marsh plant, Lythrum salicaria
3. any of several similar or related plants, such as the primulaceous plant Naumburgia thyrsiflora ( tufted loosestrife )

Word History and Origins

Origin of loosestrife¹

1540–50; loose (v.) + strife, mistranslation of Latin lȳsimachīa (< Greek lȳsimáchei ( os ) + -a feminine noun suffix; lysi-, -machy ), plant said to be named after a certain Lysímachos; -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of loosestrife¹

C16: loose + strife , an erroneous translation of Latin lysimachia, as if from Greek lusimakhos ending strife, instead of from the name of the supposed discoverer, Lusimakhos

Example Sentences

But in both these passages the plant intended is the Lythrum salicaria, or Purple Loosestrife.

From Project Gutenberg

The pale gold of the loosestrife had faded, but the deeper yellow of the goldenrod had begun to take its place.

From Project Gutenberg

Every hedgerow was a blaze of blossom, roses, honeysuckle, elder; every brook was fringed with meadowsweet and loosestrife.

From Project Gutenberg

It will eat almost any sort of Galium; also willow herb (Epilobium), and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

From Project Gutenberg

Yellow loosestrife is rising, thick comfrey stands at the very edge; the sandpipers run where the shore is free from bushes.

From Project Gutenberg