Oregano

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɒɹɪˈɡɑːnəʊ/

Definitions

1. A fragrant herb from the mint family frequently employed in cooking, valued for its ability to enhance dishes like pizza and salads
2. This aromatic plant is commonly used in Mediterranean recipes, adding a distinct flavor to various foods and sauces
3. A herb known for its pleasant fragrance and frequent use as a seasoning in many culinary traditions

Etymology: The herb we sprinkle on pizza is named for a plant the ancient Greeks called "oríganon," a word that appears in Greek writing as far back as the classical era and was later taken into Latin as "orīganum." English got the word only in the 18th century, and it came in through Spanish "orégano," which referred to wild marjoram, the plant's close relative. The name crossed into English as a kitchen term rather than a botanical one, so the English word was borrowed from Spanish instead of directly from Greek or Latin. The name is also a doublet of "origanum," the scientific Latin name that botanists use for the same genus. Both descend from the same Greek source, but one arrived through everyday speech and the other through scholarly Latin, which is why two forms of one word coexist in English.

Synonyms: marjoram, herb