Wormwood

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈwÉ™(ɹ)m.wÊŠd/
• US

Origin

From Middle English wormwode, alteration of wermode ("wormwood"), from Old English wermōd, wormōd ("wormwood, absinthe"), from Proto-Germanic *wermōdaz ("wormwood"). Cognate with Middle Low German wermode, wermede ("wormwood"), German Wermut ("wormwood"). See vermouth.

Full definition of wormwood

Noun

1. (botany) An intensely bitter herb (Artemisia absinthium and similar plants in genus Artemisia) used in the production of absinthe and vermouth, and as a tonic.
• unknown date, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene iii (the nurse's monologue).But as I said,
  When it did taste the wormwood on the nipple
  Of my dug and felt it bitter, pretty fool,
  To see it tetchy and fall out with the dug! /
2. Anything that causes bitterness or affliction.

Synonyms

• (botany) artemisia, grande wormwood, mugwort, absinthe, Artemisia pontica obsolete

Derived terms

• common wormwood
• tree wormwood
• wormwood hare

Anagrams

• woodworm