tormentil

[ tawr-men-til ]
/ ˈtɔr mɛn tɪl /

noun

a low European plant, Potentilla erecta, of the rose family, having small, bright-yellow flowers, and a strongly astringent root used in medicine and in tanning and dyeing.

Origin of tormentil

1350–1400; Middle English tormentille < Medieval Latin tormentilla, equivalent to Latin torment(um) torment + -illa diminutive suffix

Words nearby tormentil

Example sentences from the Web for tormentil

British Dictionary definitions for tormentil

tormentil
/ (ˈtɔːməntɪl) /

noun

a rosaceous downy perennial plant, Potentilla erecta, of Europe and W Asia, having serrated leaves, four-petalled yellow flowers, and an astringent root used in medicine, tanning, and dyeing Also called: bloodroot

Word Origin for tormentil

C15: from Old French tormentille, from Medieval Latin tormentilla, from Latin tormentum agony; referring to its use in relieving pain; see torment