lignum vitae

[ lig-nuhm vahy-tee, vee-tahy ]

/ ˈlɪg nəm ˈvaɪ ti, ˈvi taɪ /

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noun

either of two tropical American trees, Guaiacum officinale or G. sanctum, of the caltrop family, having very hard, heavy wood.

the wood of such a tree, used for making pulley blocks, mallet heads, bearings, etc.

any of several other trees yielding a similar hard wood.

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Origin of lignum vitae

1585–95; <New Latin, Late Latin, name of the tree, literally, wood of life

Words nearby lignum vitae

lignivorous, ligno-, lignocaine, lignocellulose, lignum, lignum vitae, ligroin, lig snail, ligula, ligulate, ligule

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lignum vitae in a sentence

Maecenas vitae quam vitae ex laoreet tempor vitae in tortor.
Test Article|CNN|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were of elm, with lignum vit roller sheaves, and were bound inside with iron, and had swivel eyes.
Loss of the Steamship 'Titanic'|British Government
It is found by experience to bee farre better and of more vses then the wood which is called Guaiacum, or Lignum vit.
A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land Of Virginia, 1590|Thomas Hariot
But just before the catastrophe one man, integer vitae scelerisque purus, sees the truth.
The Longest Journey|E. M. Forster

The wood of those trees is as heavy or heavier than Brazil or Lignum vitae; and is in colour white.
Sir Francis Drake Revived|Philip Nichols
Forsitan tu admitteris si Desiderium vitae aeternae aliquando loqui cessaverit, V 209 d.
Selections from Early Middle English 1130-1250: Part II: Notes|Various

British Dictionary definitions for lignum vitae

lignum vitae

/ (ˈlɪɡnəm ˈvaɪtɪ) /

noun

either of two zygophyllaceous tropical American trees, Guaiacum officinale or G. sanctum, having blue or purple flowers

the heavy resinous wood of either of these trees, which is used in machine bearings, casters, etc: formerly thought to have medicinal properties

Word Origin for lignum vitae

New Latin, from Late Latin, literally: wood of life

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012