loosestrife

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

Calque of Ancient Greek λυσιμάχειον (lusimákheion), as if from λύσις (lúsis, “loosening”) + μάχη (mákhē, “battle, strife”).

On the banks are flowers--yarrow, meadow-sweet, willow herb, loosestrife, and lady’s bed-straw. — The Wouldbegoods: Being the Further Adventures of the Treasure Seekers, E. (Edith) Nesbit
Purple loosestrife arrived early, shaking luxuriant tangled locks along the edge of the mirror whence its own face laughed back at it. — The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
Where is the girl, who by the boatman's door, Above the locks, above the boating throng, Unmoor'd our skiff when through the Wytham flats, Red loosestrife and blond meadow-sweet among And darting swallows and light water-gnats, We track'd the shy Thames shore? — Poetical Works of Matthew Arnold, Matthew Arnold

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