Meanings
plural comfreys · alternative comphrey · alternative cumfrey
- countableuncountableAny of several species of perennial herbs of the genus Symphytum, often specifically common comfrey (Symphytum officinale).
It thrives on compost and natural fertilizers brewed from comfrey or seaweed and uses only rain, natural groundwater or wastewater purified through a system of reed beds.
2007 April 25, Kim Severson, “Farmer, Cookie Maker, Ecologist and, Yes, the Future King”, in New York Times
Synonyms & antonyms
nounperennial herbs of Europe and Iran; make rapidly growing groundcover for shaded areas
nounleaves make a popular tisane; young leaves used in salads or cooked
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latin(herba) cōnfirma
- Middle Englishcumfiria
- Englishcomfrey
From Middle English cumfiria, from Latin (herba) cōnfirma in Pseudo-Apuleius, also called cōnsolida, cōnserva, cōnferva, from conferveo (“to boil together”); from the use of the plant in tea to aid in healing bones.
More words from Middle English, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek σύμφυτον
- σύμφυτον (súmphuton)perennial herb
Arabic سِنْفِيتُون
- سِنْفِيتُون (sinfītūn)perennial herb
Bulgarian че́рен ома́н, зара́сличе
- че́рен ома́н (čéren omán)perennial herb
- зара́сличе (zarásliče)perennial herb
Catalan consolda
- consoldaperennial herb
Dutch smeerwortel
- smeerwortelperennial herb
Finnish raunioyrtti, rohtoraunioyrtti
- raunioyrttiperennial herb
- rohtoraunioyrttiperennial herb
French consoude
- consoudeperennial herb
German Beinwell
- Beinwellperennial herb
Greek σύμφυτο, στεκούλι
- σύμφυτο (sýmfyto)perennial herb
- στεκούλι (stekoúli)perennial herb
Hebrew סינפיטון
- סינפיטון (sinfitón)perennial herb
Hungarian nadálytő
- nadálytőperennial herb
Irish meacan compair, lus na gcnámh briste
- meacan compairperennial herb
- lus na gcnámh bristeperennial herb
Italian consolida
- consolidaperennial herb
Japanese コンフリー, 鰭玻璃草
- コンフリー (konfurii)perennial herb
- 鰭玻璃草 (hirehari-sou)perennial herb
Latin ālum
- ālumperennial herb
Lithuanian taukė
- taukėperennial herb
Polish żywokost
- żywokostperennial herb
Portuguese consolda, consólida
- consoldaperennial herb
- consólidaperennial herb
- confreiperennial herb
Romanian tătăneasă
- tătăneasăperennial herb
Russian око́пник, костоло́мка
- око́пник (okópnik)perennial herb
- костоло́мка (kostolómka)perennial herb
Slovak kostihoj
- kostihojperennial herb
Spanish consuelda
- consueldaperennial herb
Swedish vallört
- vallörtperennial herb
Turkish eşekkulağı, karakafes
- eşekkulağıperennial herb
- karakafesperennial herb
Ukrainian живокі́ст
- живокі́ст (žyvokíst)perennial herb
Welsh cyfardwf
- cyfardwfperennial herb
Cite this entry
comfrey. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/comfrey
“comfrey.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/comfrey. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “comfrey,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/comfrey.
Source: comfrey on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.