Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

costmary

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: cost-mary
IPA

15

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An aromatic plant (Tanacetum balsamita), once used to flavour ale (prior to use of hops); also used as a bookmark in Bibles and other holy texts to dissuade silverfish and other pests.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The Marigolde, and cherefull Rosemarie; / The Spartan Mirtle, whence sweet gumb does flowe; / The purple Hyacinths, and fresh Costmarie, / And Saffron, sought for in Cilician soyle"

Etymology

From Latin costum, from Ancient Greek κόστος (kóstos, “an Oriental aromatic plant”), and Maria (“the Virgin Mary”); only indirectly related to English rosemary.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: costum, κόστος

Usage

Uncountable

Inflected Forms

costmaries (plural)

Synonyms

alecost mint geranium bible leaf balsam herb tanacetum balsamita chrysanthemum balsamita

Questions

What does costmary mean?: An aromatic plant (Tanacetum balsamita), once used to flavour ale (prior to use of hops); also used as a bookmark in Bibles and other holy texts to dissuade silverfish and other pests.
Where does costmary come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce costmary

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “costmary”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “costmary”.
Repeat and practice — Say “costmary” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.