costmary

C3O1S1T1M3A1R1Y4

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.

Similar
alecostmint geraniumbible leafbalsam herbTanacetum balsamitaChrysanthemum balsamita
OriginLatin costum ← Ancient Greek κόστος →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nouncostmary (usually uncountable, plural costmaries)

plural costmaries

  1. uncountableusuallyAn 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.

    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

    1591, “Virgils Gnat”, in Edmund Spenser, transl., Complaints, translation of Culex by Virgil

    Synonyms: alecost, mint geranium

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn 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.

Similar
alecostmint geranium

More synonyms by meaning

nountansy-scented Eurasian perennial herb with buttonlike yellow flowers; used as potherb or salad green and sometimes for potpourri or tea or flavoring; sometimes placed in genus Chrysanthemum

Similar
alecostbible leafmint geraniumbalsam herbTanacetum balsamitaChrysanthemum balsamita
Broader
herbherbaceous plant
Also see
alecostbible leafmint geranium

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκόστος“an Oriental aromatic plant”
  2. Latincostum
  3. Englishcostmary

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

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian Калоферче
  • Калоферче (Kaloferče)Translations
Catalan cost
  • costTranslations
Finnish palsamipietaryrtti
  • palsamipietaryrttiTranslations
French menthe-coq
  • menthe-coqTranslations
German Frauenminze, Marienblatt
  • FrauenminzeTranslations
  • MarienblattTranslations
Irish gormshúileach
  • gormshúileachTranslations
Italian fritola, menta romana
  • fritolaTranslations
  • menta romanaTranslations
  • menta grecaTranslations
  • erba amaraTranslations
Persian شاهسپرغم
  • شاهسپرغمTranslations
Polish złocień wonny
  • złocień wonnyTranslations
Russian пижма бальзамическая
  • пижма бальзамическая (pižma balʹzamičeskaja)Translations
Spanish hierba de Santa María
  • hierba de Santa MaríaTranslations
Welsh tansi Mair, costmair
  • tansi MairTranslations
  • costmairTranslations

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

mascotry
Cite this entry
APA

costmary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/costmary

MLA

“costmary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/costmary. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “costmary,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/costmary.

Source: costmary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.