Herbist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An individual focused on the cultivation and study of plants, who may also utilize herbs for medicinal purposes or culinary applications
2. A specialist in herbs who engages in their growth, application in herbal remedies, and incorporation into various dishes
3. A person dedicated to the growing and understanding of plants, particularly those used for medicine and cooking

Etymology: "Herbist" is a plain formation: the noun "herb" with the suffix "-ist," which marks a person who practises or specialises in something, as in "botanist" or "dentist." Put together, it names someone who works with or knows about herbs. The base word "herb" came into English from Old French "herbe," which in turn comes from Latin "herba," meaning grass or green plant. The "h" was silent for centuries, which is why the word is still pronounced "erb" in American English, while British speakers usually keep the "h" sound.

Synonyms: herbalist