contrayerva
[ kon-truh-yur-vuh ]
/ ˌkɒn trəˈyɜr və /
noun
the root of certain tropical American plants of the genus Dorstenia, of the mulberry family, especially D. contrajerva, used as a stimulant, diaphoretic, etc.
Words nearby contrayerva
Example sentences from the Web for contrayerva
Contrayerva, kon-tra-yėr′va, n. a stimulating and tonic aromatic root of tropical America.
The contrayerva infusion in distilled water had acquired a disagreeable fœtor, but the beef was not yet putrid.
Experiments and Observations on the Following Subjects |Thomas Henry
British Dictionary definitions for contrayerva
contrayerva
/ (ˌkɒntrəˈjɜːvə) /
noun
the root of any of several tropical American moraceous plants of the genus Dorstenia, esp D. contrayerva, used as a stimulant and tonic
Word Origin for contrayerva
C17: from Spanish
contrayerba, from
contra- +
yerba grass, (poisonous) plant, from Latin
herba; referring to the belief that it was an antidote to poisons