One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Of a flower, especially a rose: having a very large number of petals; double. Compare centifolia.
Early 18th century; earliest use found in Nathan Bailey (d. 1742), lexicographer and schoolmaster. From classical Latin centifolius (in rosa centifolia rose with a hundred petals (Pliny) from centum hundred + folium leaf, petal, after Hellenistic Greek ἑκατοντάϕυλλος (Theophrastus)) + -ous.
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