tansy

[ tan-zee ]

noun

, plural tan·sies.

1. any of several composite plants of the genus Tanacetum, especially a strong-scented, weedy, Old World herb, T. vulgare, having flat-topped clusters of tubular yellow flowers.

tansy

/ ˈtænzɪ /

noun

1. any of numerous plants of the genus Tanacetum, esp T. vulgare, having yellow flowers in flat-topped clusters and formerly used in medicine and for seasoning: family Asteraceae (composites)
2. any of various similar plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of tansy¹

1225–75; Middle English < Old French tanesie, aphetic variant of atanesie < Medieval Latin athanasia < Greek athanasía immortality, equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + thánat ( os ) death ( Thanatos ) + -ia -y ³, with ti < si

Word History and Origins

Origin of tansy¹

C15: from Old French tanesie, from Medieval Latin athanasia tansy (with reference to its alleged power to prolong life), from Greek: immortality

Example Sentences

The herbs commonly used included pennyroyal and tansy.

From New York Times

Along with members of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, which owns some adjacent land, Hamman and her colleagues plan to burn some of Noyes’ pastures later this year to help control tansy ragwort.

From Seattle Times

They started using medicines, which Madame Restell and others provided, that were made out of things like turpentine and tansy.

From Salon

The technique recorded how the abundance of different species changed through time: For example, the rapid bloom and growth of the tansy mustard in early spring, an event missed by ground surveys.

From Science Magazine

But that was changing: He pointed to butter-and-eggs, oxeye daisies, bellflowers, tufted vetch, hemp nettle, spotted jewelweed, creeping Charlie, common tansy, orange hawkweed.

From New York Times