asclepiad

noun

as·cle·pi·ad ə-ˈsklē-pē-əd

a-,

-ˌad

: milkweed

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek asklēpiad-, asklēpias celandine, from Asklēpios, Greek god of medicine

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of asclepiad was in 1859

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Asclepiad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asclepiad. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

sustain

Listen to the pronunciation of sustain

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Popular in Wordplay

Are you in a 'food coma'?

The Words of the Week - Nov. 21

17 Words for Dog Breeds

Words That Turned 100 in 2025

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

Popular

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

Are you in a 'food coma'?

The Words of the Week - Nov. 21