IPA: //ˈkɒstˌmɛəri//
KK: /ˈkɔstˌmɛri/
A type of herb that grows in Eurasia, known for its fragrant leaves which can be used in cooking, making tea, or for potpourri.
She added costmary leaves to the tea for extra flavor.
Costmary is derived from the Middle English 'costmarie', which comes from the Old French 'costemarie', meaning 'costmary' or 'costus maris'. The term 'costus' is from Latin 'costus', meaning 'spikenard' or 'costus', and 'maris' is from Latin 'marinus', meaning 'of the sea'. Thus, costmary refers to a plant associated with the sea, often used for its aromatic properties.
Think of 'costus' meaning a fragrant plant and 'maris' meaning of the sea, which helps you remember that costmary is an aromatic plant linked to the sea.