tage·tes \ˈtajəˌtēz, təˈjed.(ˌ)ēz\noun Etymology: New Latin, probably after Tages, an ancient Etruscan deity 1.capitalized: a genus of strong-scented tropical American herbs (family Compositae) having opposite pinnatifid leaves and showy heads of flowers with yellow or orange rays — see marigold 1b 2.pluraltagetes\“\: any plant of the genus Tagetes