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loose·strife

(lsstrīf′)

1. Any of various plants of the genus Lythrum, having spikes of purple or white flowers, especially the purple loosestrife.

2. Any of various perennial plants of the genus Lysimachia, having usually yellow flowers.

[Mistranslation of Latin lȳsimachīa (as if from Greek lusis, loosening + Greek makhē, battle), from Greek lūsimakheios, perhaps after Lūsimakhos, Lysimachos, Greek physician of the fifth or fourth century BC.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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