hellebore

noun

hel·​le·​bore ˈhe-lə-ˌbȯr 

1

: any of a genus (Helleborus) of poisonous Eurasian herbs of the buttercup family having showy flowers with petaloid sepals

also : the dried rhizome of a hellebore (such as H. niger) formerly used in medicine

2

: a poisonous herb (genus Veratrum) of the lily family

also : the dried rhizome of a hellebore (V. album or V. viride) that is used as an insecticide and contains toxic alkaloids that are cardiac and respiratory depressants

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Trees are really budding, daffodils are blooming as are crocus, hellebores and paper bush. —Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2023

The snowdrops, hellebores and winter aconites? —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 17 Feb. 2023

With their white petals, the flowers appear along with the violet-colored spring crocus, Cornelian cherry dogwood and hellebore (also called Lenten rose). —Cameron Walker, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2021

The most accurate common name, black hellebore, reflects the plants dark roots. —Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 25 Dec. 2016

Dark tulips, nasturtiums, chocolate lace, and hellebore will all go straight to your emo goth’s heart. —Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 12 Feb. 2020

The common name hellebore refers to several species of plants in the Helleborus genus. —Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 10 Apr. 2021

White flies have infested my garden especially in hellebore and western sword fern beds. —oregonlive, 26 Dec. 2020

Make sure to think about color early in the season, with early-blooming species like hellebore and trillium. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2020

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English elebre, from Anglo-French, from Latin elleborus, helleborus, from Greek helleboros

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hellebore

noun

hel·​le·​bore ˈhel-ə-ˌbō(ə)r 

-ˌbȯ(ə)r

1

: any of a genus of poisonous herbs related to the buttercups

also : its dried root formerly used in medicine

2

: a poisonous herb related to the lilies

also : its dried root or a product of this containing chemical substances used in medicine and insecticides

Medical Definition

hellebore

noun

hel·​le·​bore ˈhel-ə-ˌbō(ə)r, -ˌbȯ(ə)r 

1

a

: any herb of the genus Helleborus

b

: the dried roots and rhizome of any medicinal herb of the genus Helleborus (as black hellebore H. niger or green hellebore H. viridis) or a powder or extract of this used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in treating mental and other disorders

2

a

: any of several poisonous herbs of the genus Veratrum

b

: the dried rhizome and roots of either of two hellebores of the genus Veratrum (the false hellebore V. viride of America and V. album of Europe) or a powder or extract of this containing alkaloids (as protoveratrine) used as a cardiac and respiratory depressant and also as an insecticide

called also veratrum, white hellebore