contrayerva

noun

con·​tra·​yer·​va
ˌkän‧trəˈyərvə,
ˌkōn‧-,
-yer-
variants or contrahierba
-trəˈyerbə,
-yervə
plural -s
: a tropical American herb (Dorstenia contrayerva) the aromatic root of which was formerly used as a stimulant, tonic, and diaphoretic
also : any West Indian species of Aristolochia similarly used

Word History

Etymology

Spanish contrayerba, contrahierba, from contra- + yerba, hierba herb, grass, poison, from Latin herba herb; from the belief that it was a poison antidote

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Dictionary Entries Near contrayerva

contrawise

contrayerva

contrebasse

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Cite this Entry

“Contrayerva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrayerva. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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