hellebore

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a flowering plant of the genus Helleborus, several species of which are poisonous and were formerly medicinal

   Ancient physicians administered hellebore as a drastic remedy.

2. 2
   noun

   any of several unrelated poisonous plants historically called false hellebore

   The herbalist warned that false hellebore is highly toxic.

From Middle English ellebore, through Old French and Latin from Ancient Greek helleboros, the plant name. English later restored the initial h to reflect the Greek form.

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