Definition of HELLEBORE

hellebore

Meanings

Plural: hellebores

Noun

  • perennial herbs of the lily family having thick toxic rhizomes
  • any plant of the Eurasian genus Helleborus
  • Any of the common garden flowering plants of the genus Helleborus, in family Ranunculaceae, having supposed medicinal properties.
  • A toxic extract of certain false hellebores (Veratrum album or Veratrum viride), formerly used as a pesticide.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English ellebore, from Old French ellebre, elebore, from Medieval Latin eleborus, via Latin from Ancient Greek ἑλλέβορος (helléboros), possibly from ἄλκη (álkē, “elk [moose]”) βιβρώσκω (bibrṓskō, “to eat”). The initial h was restored in English to reflect the Ancient Greek etymology.

Synonyms

Christmas rose, false hellebore

Scrabble Score: 14

hellebore is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
hellebore is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
hellebore is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

hellebore is a valid Words With Friends word