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Definition of symphytum
symphytum
/ˈsɪm.fɪ.təm/
sym · phy · tum
Plural:symphytums
symphytum Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any perennial flowering plant of the genus Symphytum in the borage family (Boraginaceae), commonly known as comfrey, native to Europe and Asia and cultivated for its coarse hairy foliage and drooping, scorpioid clusters of bell-shaped or tubular blossoms in shades of purple, blue, pink, white, or cream.
Synonyms
View all synonyms for symphytum• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Latin symphytum, from Ancient Greek symphyton ('comfrey'), derived from symphyo ('to make grow together'), referring to its traditional use in folk medicine for healing broken bones and wounds.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Symphytum. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/symphytum