wormwood

Meanings

Noun

any of several low composite herbs of the genera Artemisia or Seriphidium
An intensely bitter herb (Artemisia absinthium and similar plants in genus Artemisia) used in medicine, in the production of absinthe and vermouth, and as a tonic.
Something that causes bitterness or affliction; a cause of mortification or vexation.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English wormwode, a folk etymology (as if worm + wood) of wermode (“wormwood”), from Old English wermōd (“wormwood, absinthe”), from Proto-West Germanic *warjamōdā (“wormwood”). Cognate with Middle Low German wermode, wermede (“wormwood”), German Wermut (“wormwood”). Doublet of vermouth.

Synonyms

absinthe, artemisia, common wormwood, grande wormwood, mugwort

Scrabble Score: 17

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

Words With Friends Score: 18

wormwood is a valid Words With Friends word