clary: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2literary, botanical, historical, culinary
Quick answer
What does “clary” mean?
A type of aromatic herb, typically Salvia sclarea, used historically in medicine and flavoring.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of aromatic herb, typically Salvia sclarea, used historically in medicine and flavoring.
May refer loosely to any related species of aromatic sage or be used in historical/culinary contexts for its sweet, balsamic scent; in older texts, also used as a verb meaning 'to clarify'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, it carries connotations of old herbals, traditional medicine, or historical gardening.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Slightly more likely to appear in British gardening or historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “clary” in a Sentence
[clary] as a [noun]the [clary] plantto [verb: clary] wineVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clary” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They would clary the wine with egg whites.
- An old recipe advises to clary the broth.
American English
- The colonial method was to clary cider with isinglass.
- He learned to clary the mead.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- The clary plant needs full sun.
- A clary-infused oil was prepared.
American English
- The clary specimen was labeled carefully.
- She bought clary seeds for the garden.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in niche contexts like herbal product branding or essential oils.
Academic
Used in botany, pharmacology history, or medieval studies.
Everyday
Virtually unused.
Technical
Botanical classification, aromatherapy, historical phytotherapy.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clary”
- Misspelling as 'clarey' or 'clairy'.
- Assuming it's a common modern word.
- Using it as a general verb (archaic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term found mainly in botanical, historical, or niche culinary contexts.
Yes, but the verb form 'to clary' (meaning to clarify, especially wine) is archaic and rarely used today.
'Clary sage' is the most common collocation, referring to the specific species Salvia sclarea used in essential oils and herbalism.
Clary is a specific type of sage (Salvia sclarea), often distinguished by its larger leaves and muscatel scent, compared to common garden sage (Salvia officinalis).
A type of aromatic herb, typically Salvia sclarea, used historically in medicine and flavoring.
Clary is usually literary, botanical, historical, culinary in register.
Clary: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɛːri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkleri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None common; historical 'clary water' refers to a medicinal infusion.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CLARity' - clary was historically used to 'clarify' vision and wine.
Conceptual Metaphor
HERB AS HEALER / PLANT AS PURIFIER
Practice
Quiz
What is 'clary' primarily known as?