Marijuana

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌmɛɹɪˈwɑ.nə/

Definitions

1. A flowering plant from the Cannabis family recognized for its mind-altering properties and medicinal uses
2. A type of cannabis plant known for its psychoactive effects and use in therapy
3. A species of cannabis cultivated for recreational, medical, or industrial intentions

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "marijuana" is that its familiar sound owes more to a folk etymology than to its origin. The word was borrowed from Mexican Spanish, where "marihuana" (or "mariguana") was the common name for the cannabis plant. Its exact origin in Mexico is uncertain, and the Spanish form was reshaped by speakers who heard in it the name "María Juana," or "Mary Jane," which made the word feel like a personal name rather than a foreign plant term. English speakers first met the word in print in 1874, when the American historian Hubert Howe Bancroft recorded it in his publications. The spelling and pronunciation English settled on reflect that Spanish-influenced form, and the "Mary Jane" association came along with it.

Synonyms: cannabis, weed, pot, ganja, herb

Antonyms: sober, clear-headed, straight, unimpaired, abstinent