contrayerva

American  

[kon-truh-yur-vuh] / ˌkɒn trəˈyɜr 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

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

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