wormwood
pronunciation
How to pronounce wormwood in British English:
UK [ˈwɜ:mwʊd]
How to pronounce wormwood in American English:
US [ˈwɜrmwʊd]
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- Noun:
- any of several low composite herbs of the genera Artemisia or Seriphidium
Word Origin
- wormwood
- wormwood: see vermouth
- wormwood (n.)
- c. 1400, folk etymology of Old English wermod "wormwood, absinthe," related to vermouth, but the ultimate etymology is unknown. Compare Old Saxon wermoda, Dutch wermoet, Old High German werimuota, German Wermut. Weekley suggests wer "man" + mod "courage," from its early use as an aphrodisiac. Figurative use, however, is usually in reference to its proverbial bitter aftertaste. Perhaps because of the folk etymology, it formerly was used to protect clothes and bedding from moths and fleas. "A medecyne for an hawke that hath mites. Take the Iuce of wormewode and put it ther thay be and thei shall dye." ["Book of St. Albans," 1486]
Example
- 1. We can 't help kissing each other low wormwood 2009 china tour .
- 2. A study of annual wormwood to treat malaria .
- 3. What would I get if I added root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood ?
- 4. Last year I made a batch using dried mugwort and a very small quantity of wormwood ( both artemisia species ) .
- 5. Also interesting to note that revelation is the only reference that refers to the star named wormwood .