damiana

[dam-ee-an-uh]

noun

1. the dried leaves of a Mexican plant, Turnera diffusa, formerly used as a laxative and a tonic, and purported to be effective in the treatment of sexual impotence.

Word History and Origins

Origin of damiana¹

First recorded in 1865–70; from Latin American Spanish (Mexico)

Example Sentences

Damiana likens it to “the Great Depression.”

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For these seniors — Vernon Andrews, Khristian Davis, Joshua Murff and Damiana Sharp, all 17 — this is their last first day at Patrick Henry High School, capping an experience shaped by the pandemic, protests and a teachers’ strike.

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For Damiana: “I just want to finish real bad.”

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Russian Yulia Matochkina displayed a portentous mezzo-soprano as the sorceress Ulrica, Italian soprano Damiana Mizzi had ebullient coloratura as the page Oscar and tenor Francesco Meli was a dashing if somewhat flagging Riccardo.

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Best among the featured singers were the mezzo-soprano Yulia Matochkina, commanding as the soothsayer Ulrica, and the soprano Damiana Mizzi, sprightly but silky as the page Oscar, a rare Verdian trouser role.

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