English Explanatory Dictionary

wormwood

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An intensely bitter herb (Artemisia absinthium and similar plants in genus Artemisia) used in medicine, in the production of absinthe and vermouth, and as a tonic.
  2. Something that causes bitterness or affliction; a cause of mortification or vexation.
name
  1. A star or angel that appears in the Book of Revelation, turning waters bitter and poisonous.
  2. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈwə(ɹ)m.wʊd/ /ˈwɚm.wʊd/ en-us-wormwood.ogg

Word forms

wormwood wormwoods

Etymology

From Middle English wormwode, a folk etymology (as if worm + wood) of wermode (“wormwood”), from Old English wermōd (“wormwood, absinthe”), from Proto-West Germanic *warjamōdā (“wormwood”). Cognate with Middle Low German wermode, wermede (“wormwood”), German Wermut (“wormwood”). Doublet of vermouth.

Synonyms

common wormwood grande wormwood absinthe mugwort artemisia

Derived words

African wormwood annual wormwood common wormwood gall and wormwood Roman wormwood Russian wormwood salt of wormwood sea wormwood sweet wormwood tree wormwood wormwood hare Wormwood Scrubs
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