English

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Etymology

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From French aconit, from Latin aconītum, from Ancient Greek ἀκόνιτον (akóniton).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈæ.kə.naɪt/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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aconite (countable and uncountable, plural aconites)

  1. The herb wolfsbane, or monkshood; any plant of the genus Aconitum, all the species of which are poisonous.
    • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 112:
      Witches always anointed themselves with ointments before departing up the chimney to their Sabbaths. One such ointment was composed of Aconite, Belladonna, Water Parsley, Cinquefoil and Babies' Fat.
    • 1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 254:
      Rampion grown in the cottage garden made the children of the house quarrelsome; breathing deeply into a handful of mint refreshed your senses, but aconite could cause your death.
  2. (toxicology) An extract or tincture obtained from Aconitum napellus, used as a poison and medicinally.

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Descendants

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  • Irish: acainít

Translations

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Anagrams

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Latin

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Adjective

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aconīte

  1. vocative masculine singular of aconītus