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DictionarywormwoodBitter aromatic plant
noun

wormwood

WURM-wud/ˈwɜːrmwʊd/

A bitter, aromatic plant used in absinthe and traditional medicine.

The bitterness of wormwood helps give absinthe its distinctive flavor.

Botanical field illustration of a living wormwood plant Artemisia absinthium, distinctive silvery gray-green deeply divided leaves with fine downy texture, branching stems and many tiny round drooping yellow flower heads, rooted in dry stony soil with natural sunlight.
Etymology
wormwoodOld Englishwormwood, absinthe

Wermod already named this bitter herb, but its ultimate origin is unknown. The related name vermouth points to its use in flavoring an alcoholic drink, while its proverbial bitterness also gave wormwood a figurative sense of something undesirable.

In context

Dr. Eric Berg DC0:00
today we're going to talk a little bit about wormwood extract this is one of the best remedies for parasites
The Benefits of Wormwood

More examples

  • The gardener plants wormwood in a sunny corner.
  • Dried wormwood has a strong, lingering scent.
  • The book describes traditional medicinal uses of wormwood.

Forms

wormwood · wormwoods

Similar words

herb
A broader term for plants used in flavoring or medicine.