noun
wormwood
WUHM-wuud
Wormwood (noun) means a very bitter herb used in medicine and in making absinthe and vermouth. Example: “Wormwood gives absinthe its distinctive bitter edge.”
noun
1
A very bitter herb used in medicine and in making absinthe and vermouth.
"Amongst the herbs to be administered when the charm was sung over him were a yew-berry, lupin, helenium, marsh mallow, dock, elder, wormwood and strawberry leaves."
— Eleanour Sinclair Rohde, The Old English Herbals (1922)
"Tradition credits John the Baptist with wearing a girdle fashioned of wormwood, while he was in the wilderness."
— Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs (1961)
"Wormwood gives absinthe its distinctive bitter edge."
2
Something that causes bitterness, grief, or resentment.
"The betrayal was wormwood to her for years afterward."
How to use wormwood
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bitter herb, or figuratively, a source of bitterness or grief.
Common mistake
Despite the spelling, it has no real connection to "worm" — that's just how the word evolved over time.
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Word forms
- Plural
- wormwoods
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ gives absinthe its distinctive bitter edge.
Etymology
From Old English "wermōd," reshaped over time to look like "worm" plus "wood," though it has nothing to do with worms. It's a relative of "vermouth."
Rhymes for wormwood
See all rhymes for wormwood →Frequently asked questions
What does “wormwood” mean?
The word “wormwood” means a very bitter herb used in medicine and in making absinthe and vermouth. In plain terms, a bitter herb, or figuratively, a source of bitterness or grief.
How do you pronounce “wormwood”?
“Wormwood” is pronounced WUHM-wuud (/ˈwɚm.wʊd/ in IPA).
How do you use “wormwood” in a sentence?
Here is “wormwood” used in a sentence: “Wormwood gives absinthe its distinctive bitter edge.”
What part of speech is “wormwood”?
“Wormwood” is a noun.
Where does the word “wormwood” come from?
The word “wormwood” comes from Old English. From Old English "wermōd," reshaped over time to look like "worm" plus "wood," though it has nothing to do with worms. It's a relative of "vermouth.".
How many meanings does “wormwood” have?
“Wormwood” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very bitter herb used in medicine and in making absinthe and vermouth.
