hellebore

noun

hel·​le·​bore ˈhe-lə-ˌbȯr How to pronounce hellebore (audio)
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

Examples of hellebore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Mandrake, hellebore, hyoscyamus, opium poppy, ergot fungi, peyote, cannabis. Martha McPhee, Vogue, 24 July 2024 Helleborus x hybridus is the Heinz 57 of hellebores with genetics contributed from a handful of eastern European species and are generally sold under the common name of Lenten rose. Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 2 Feb. 2024 Follow the steps below to grow hellebores from seed. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2024 Burying the crown of a hellebore can interfere with blooming. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hellebore 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hellebore.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of hellebore was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near hellebore

Cite this Entry

“Hellebore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hellebore. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

hellebore

noun
hel·​le·​bore ˈhel-ə-ˌbō(ə)r How to pronounce hellebore (audio)
-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
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

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