valerian

noun va·le·ri·an \və-ˈlir-ē-ən\

Definition of VALERIAN

: any of a genus (Valeriana of the family Valerianaceae, the valerian family) of perennial herbs and shrubs many of which possess medicinal properties

: a preparation of the dried rhizome and roots of the garden heliotrope (Valeriana officinalis) used especially formerly as a carminative and sedative

Origin of VALERIAN

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French valeriane, from Medieval Latin valeriana, probably from feminine of valerianus of Valeria, from Valeria, Roman province formerly part of Pannonia

First Known Use: 12th century

Rhymes with VALERIAN

Adlerian, Algerian, Assyrian, Chaucerian, Cimmerian, Faulknerian, Forsterian, Hesperian, Hitlerian, Hutterian, Hyperion, Iberian, Illyrian, Keplerian, Liberian, Mahlerian, Mousterian, Nigerian, Pierian, Shakespearean, Siberian, Skinnerian, Spencerian, Spenserian, Spenglerian, Sumerian, Valerian, Wagnerian, Weberian, Whistlerian

Valerian

biographical name Va·le·ri·an \və-ˈlir-ē-ən\

Definition of VALERIAN

d a.d. 260 Publius Licinius Valerianus Rom. emp. (253–260)

Rhymes with VALERIAN

Medical Dictionary

valerian

noun va·le·ri·an \və-ˈlir-ē-ən\

Medical Definition of VALERIAN

: any of a genus (Valeriana of the family Valerianaceae, the valerian family) of perennial herbs many of which possess medicinal properties

: a preparation of the dried rhizome and roots of the garden heliotrope (Valeriana officinalis) that is used as an herbal remedy and is held to be beneficial in treating nervousness and insomnia—called also valerian root