mandrake
Meanings
noun
- Any plant of the genus Mandragora, certain of which are said to have medicinal or aphrodisiac properties; the root of these plants often resembles the shape of a small person, hence occasioning various mythic, magical, or occult uses.
- A root of a mandrake plant that resembled human form, especially one kept or used for magic or occult purposes.
- The drug methaqualone.
- A kind of tiny demon immune to fire.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
From Middle English mandrake, mandroke, an alteration of mandragora with the ending -dragora reinterpreted as related to dragon and replaced with native drake, from Old English mandragora, from Medieval Latin mandragorās, from Ancient Greek μανδραγόρας (mandragóras).
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