Dictionary

hellebore

noun hel·le·bore \ˈhe-lə-ˌbr\

Definition of HELLEBORE

1
:  any of a genus (Helleborus) of poisonous Eurasian herbs of the buttercup family having showy flowers with petaloid sepals; also :  the dried rhizome of a hellebore (as H. niger) formerly used in medicine
2
:  a poisonous herb (genus Veratrum) of the lily family; also :  the dried rhizome of a hellebore (V. album or V. viride) that is used as an insecticide and contains toxic alkaloids that are cardiac and respiratory depressants
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Origin of HELLEBORE

Middle English elebre, from Anglo-French, from Latin elleborus, helleborus, from Greek helleboros
First Known Use: 15th century
Medical Dictionary

hellebore

noun hel·le·bore \ˈhel-ə-ˌbō(ə)r, -ˌb(ə)r\

Medical Definition of HELLEBORE

1
a :  any herb of the genus Helleborus b :  the dried roots and rhizome of any medicinal herb of the genus Helleborus (as black hellebore H. niger or green hellebore H. viridis) or a powder or extract of this used by the ancient Greeks and Romans in treating mental and other disorders
2
a :  any of several poisonous herbs of the genus Veratrum b :  the dried rhizome and roots of either of two hellebores of the genus Veratrum (the false hellebore V. viride of America and V. album of Europe) or a powder or extract of this containing alkaloids (as protoveratrine) used as a cardiac and respiratory depressant and also as an insecticide—called also veratrum, white hellebore

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