Marigold is a noun referring to a hardy flowering plant with bright orange-yellow blooms, often used ornamentally and in gardens. It also denotes a type of chrysanthemum (calendula officinalis) with similar yellow flowers. The word conveys botanical or horticultural context and can appear in literary descriptions or practical gardening conversations.
"She planted a border of marigolds along the path to brighten the garden."
"The marigold’s scent was faint, but the vibrant petals drew every eye at the flower show."
"The grandmother wore a dress with a marigold embroidery motif, adding a sunny touch to the outfit."
"In the herb garden, marigolds were interplanted with tomatoes to deter pests."
The word marigold traces to Middle English marigolde, from Old French marguerite, and ultimately from Latin margarita ‘pearl’, via Greek margarites. The plant’s common name likely arose from a poetic association with its bright, bead-like blossoms and gold color. The formation in English shows a blend of two separate horticultural names: ‘Mary’s gold’ (a Latin-influenced religious or floral naming convention) and the French marguerite naming of the oxeye daisy-like plant. Over time, the term Marigold came to describe Calendula officinalis specifically, a plant valued in traditional medicine and ornamental gardening. In botanical literature, marigold is often used interchangeably with calendula in older texts, though modern usage separates calendula (the genus) from garden marigold varieties often referred to as tagetes in many cultivated forms. First known use in English appears in early modern botanical glossaries, with the name spreading through horticultural texts by the 16th to 18th centuries as European gardeners documented plant species extensively. The perception of marigold as a “golden” or “sun-bright” flower contributed to its enduring cultural symbolism in many societies as aflower of light, protection, and vitality, reinforcing its presence in folklore and garden lore. Historically, marigolds were valued for their pest-repellent properties and were commonly planted around crops and burial sites in various cultures, a use that further embedded the word within agricultural and ceremonial vocabularies.
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Words that rhyme with "Marigold"
-old sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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/ˈmærɪˌɡoʊld/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable MAR-; UK/US share the /ˈmærɪ/ sequence, but UK might render the final /əʊld/ as /əʊld/ or /əld/ depending on dialect. Start with /m/ lips closed, then /ær/ as in ‘mare’, followed by /ɪ/ quickly, and end with /ɡoʊld/. In connected speech, you can blend the 'r' slightly in non-rhotic accents.
Mistakes include: 1) Slipping the ‘ri’ into a quick ‘ree’ instead of a short /ɪ/; 2) Dropping the /g/ and saying ‘mariold’ or ‘mariold’ with a silent g; 3) Overemphasizing the final /ld/ making it ‘-gold’ as in color. Correction: keep /ɡoʊld/ intact, ensure the middle vowel is a short /ɪ/ and the stress remains on the first syllable. Practice with minimal pairs to solidify the rhythm.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈmærɪˌɡoʊld/ with rhotic r and a clear /oʊ/. UK English often features a shorter /əʊ/ in some dialects and may have less pronounced rhoticity in non-rhotic varieties; the /r/ may be less audible. Australian typically maintains /ˈmæɹɪˌɡoːld/ with a rounded /oː/ and a slightly flatter intonation. Overall, the key variations lie in rhoticity and vowel quality in the final syllable.
Difficulties arise from the two-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable, the mid consonant cluster /ɡoʊld/ that ends with a voiced consonant blend, and the short vowel /ɪ/ in the middle. Learners often misplace stress, mispronounce the /ɡ/ or blend the final /ld/ with /d/→/ld/ or drop it altogether. Practicing the sequence MAR-i-gold with careful mouth positioning helps.
The presence of the 'ri' sequence in the middle can provoke variation: many speakers give it a quick, light /ɪ/ or a slightly reduced /ə/ in rapid speech. The final consonant cluster /ld/ requires a light/dominant alveolar action, with the tongue kissing the alveolar ridge for the /l/ and blading into a soft /d/ release. Paying attention to the transition from /ɪ/ to /ɡoʊld/ helps.
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