Ellebore

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A poisonous flowering plant of the genus Helleborus, often blooming in winter ; a medicine historically made from the roots of this plant
2. Any of several poisonous perennial herbs in the buttercup family with winter or early spring flowers ; a drug once extracted from the roots of such a plant and used as a purgative
3. A toxic flowering herb belonging to the genus Helleborus, known for blooming in cold months ; a remedy formerly prepared from the plant's root and given to treat various ailments

Etymology: Ancient physicians prized hellebore as a powerful medicine, though a dangerous one. Greek writers recommended it as a purgative and as a remedy for madness, and Roman authors such as Pliny described it at length. The same dose that cured could also kill, which made the plant a constant concern for healers. The Greek name "helleboros" has no agreed etymology. Some popular explanations link it to Greek words meaning "to injure" and "food," but these remain unproven, so the plant's name is best understood as one whose origin has been lost. The spelling "ellebore" is a medieval variant of "hellebore." It likely reflects the loss of the initial "h," which was often silent in Old French and Anglo-French, and which English writers sometimes dropped when copying the word.

Synonyms: hellebore, christmas rose