contrayerva

American  

[kon-truh-yur-vuh] / ˌkɒn trəˈjɜr və /

noun

1. the root of certain tropical American plants of the genus Dorstenia, of the mulberry family, especially D. contrajerva, used as a stimulant, diaphoretic, etc.

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contrayerva British  

/ ˌkɒntrəˈjɜːvə /

noun

1. the root of any of several tropical American moraceous plants of the genus Dorstenia, esp D. contrayerva, used as a stimulant and tonic

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Etymology

Origin of contrayerva

1650–60; < Spanish contrayerba, contrahierba < Latin contrā contra- ¹ ( def. ) + herba herb; so called from its being thought an antidote to poison

Example Sentences

I then gave him a Mixture, with spiritus mindereri, and the pulvis contrayerva comp. of which I desired him to take some Spoonfuls frequently.

From An Account of the Diseases which were most frequent in the British military hospitals in Germany by Monro, Donald

D. Contrayerva and other species have a stimulant and tonic rhizome, which is used medicinally under the name of contrayerva.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 1: Deposition to Eberswalde by Various