hellebore

Noun

Meaning

A genus of perennial herbs (Helleborus) of the Crowfoot family, mostly having powerfully cathartic and even poisonous qualities. H. niger is the European black hellebore, or Christmas rose, blossoming in winter or earliest spring. H. officinalis was the officinal hellebore of the ancients.

Any plant of several species of the poisonous liliaceous genus Veratrum, especially V. album and V. viride, both called white hellebore.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

false hellebore buttercup lily herb morel solanum conifer belladonna atropine bhang hashish bittersweet hemlock aconite nightshade
Show all synonyms

Hypernyms

poisonous plant liliaceous plant

Hyponyms

bugbane black hellebore setterwort lenten rose Christmas rose bear's-foot

Phrases with the word

stinking hellebore white hellebore swamp hellebore winter hellebore American white hellebore bastard hellebore

Examples

And for mathematical science, he that doubts their certainty hath need of a dose of hellebore. Joseph Glanvill

I would rather take hellebore than spend a conversation with a good, little man. Edward Dahlberg

A plant called false hellebore (Veratrum californicum) if eaten by a sheep that is 13 days pregnant can cause the resulting lambs to have cyclopia (having only one eyeball in the center of their forehead). Source: Internet

And, once the flowers fade, the large leathery leaves of hellebore provide a nice back drop for later flowering herbaceous plants. Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms

helldiver helldoomed Helle helleborein helleboric helleborin