Thymes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of aromatic flowering plants belonging to the genus Thymus, widely used for culinary purposes and as a medicinal herb
2. Small, bushy herbs characterized by their savory flavor and often used to enhance various dishes
3. Plants from the mint family that are known for their strong fragrance and are commonly utilized in cooking and herbal remedies

Etymology: "Thymes" is simply the plural of "thyme", the herb whose name reached English by a long route through Greek, Latin and French. The Ancient Greek "thúmon" gave Latin "thymum", which passed into Old French as "thym" before arriving in Middle English as "tyme". That chain explains why the spelling looks so unlike the modern word, which ends in a silent "e" by way of the Greek-style "y" and "h". English had its own word for the plant before this one arrived. Old English speakers called it "boþen", and the French-derived term displaced it over the centuries. The plural form "thymes" follows the usual English pattern of adding "-s" to a count noun, referring to several kinds of the herb or several sprigs of it.

Synonyms: herbs, seasonings, spices, flavors, aromatics