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Glite Dictionary
blessed thistle

blessed thistle

9.9
A plant from Europe and the Mediterranean with spiny leaves and bright yellow flowers used in herbal tea
  • noun
  • /ˈblɛsɪd ˈθɪsəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cardo bendito
  • She purchased dried blessed thistle to brew medicinal tea.

Examples

  • The blessed thistle in the garden bloomed with bright yellow flowers.

  • Herbalists sometimes recommend blessed thistle for digestive health.

  • The blessed thistle is known for its medicinal properties.

  • Many herbalists recommend blessed thistle for digestive issues.

  • Many herbalists recommend blessed thistle for its role in improving digestion and supporting liver function.

  • Blessed thistle is also used as a strong but gentle liver tonic herb, promoting metabolic activities in the liver cells and toxin elimination.

  • In herbal remedies, blessed thistle is often used to promote metabolic activities and detoxification.

Synonyms

Cnicus benedictus
vsblessed thistle
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant that lives one year with hairy stems, spiny leaves and yellow flowers used as a medicine

is the common everyday name for the same plant

Surface Forms

blessed thistle singular
blessed thistles plural

Morphology

blessed + thistle

The phrase combines the adjective 'blessed' (holy/beneficial) with 'thistle' (a spiny plant), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it names a particular thistle regarded as special or having beneficial properties. This is a regular adjective+noun composition common cross-linguistically, so the overall meaning is transparently derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Blessed thistle may come from monks who used the plant as a medicine; the Latin word 'benedictus' means 'blessed', and people thought the plant could help with health. The word thistle shows its spiky leaves, so the name links the plant's look to its use for 'medicine'.