English Explanatory Dictionary

hellebore

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Any of the common garden flowering plants of the genus Helleborus, in family Ranunculaceae, having supposed medicinal properties.
  2. A toxic extract of certain false hellebores (Veratrum album or Veratrum viride), formerly used as a pesticide.

Pronunciation

/ˈhɛlɪbɔː/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-hellebore.wav /ˈhɛlɪbɔːɹ/

Word forms

hellebore hellebores

Etymology

From Middle English ellebore, from Old French ellebre, elebore, from Medieval Latin eleborus, via Latin from Ancient Greek ἑλλέβορος (helléboros), possibly from ἄλκη (álkē, “elk [moose]”) βιβρώσκω (bibrṓskō, “to eat”). The initial h was restored in English to reflect the Ancient Greek etymology.

Synonyms

Christmas rose

Related words

veratridine

Derived words

American hellebore American white hellebore bastard hellebore big hellebore black hellebore European white hellebore false hellebore fetid hellebore (Helleborus foetidus green false hellebore green hellebore helleboric helleborin helleborine helleborism hellebortin stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus swamp hellebore white hellebore winter hellebore
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