melissa
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melissa¹
- /məˈlɪsə/ US, UK
Where it comes from
From Late Latin melissa, from Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa, “bee”), because the plant attracts bees.
noun melissas
-
A plant of the genus Melissa, especially lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), often used medicinally.
Meliſſa, Bawme, hath an excellent vertue to alter Melancholy, bee it ſteeped in our ordinary drinke, extracted, or otherwise taken.
Similar: dropsywort, honey plant
Melissa²
- /məˈlɪsə/ US
Rhymes with -ɪsə
Where it comes from
From Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa, “bee, honey, or honeybee”). In Ireland it is sometimes used as a feminine form of the Gaelic male name Maol Íosa (literally “servant of Jesus”).
proper noun
- Bee-nymph in Greek mythology.
- A female given name from Ancient Greek, popular in the latter half of the 20th century. And her owne handmayd, that Melissa hight / Appointed to attend her dewly day and night
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: genus melissa, mireille, lemon balm, dropsy plant, honey plant, garden balm, sweet balm, balm, cure-all, honey balm, melissa officinalis, balm tea, goosetongue, sweet lemon, melilot, melic
Translations
Talk about this word "melissa." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/melissa. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. melissa. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/melissa "melissa." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/melissa.Cite this
@misc{melissa_2026,
title = {melissa},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/melissa},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
