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myrrh

[mur]
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noun
  1. an aromatic resinous exudation from certain plants of the genus Myrrhis, especially M. odorata, a small spiny tree: used for incense, perfume, etc.
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Origin of myrrh

before 900; Middle English, Old English myrre < Latin myrrha < Greek mýrra ≪ Akkadian murru; akin to Hebrew mōr, Arabic murr
Related formsmyrrhed, adjectivemyrrh·ic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for myrrh

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • It is embalmed and kept sweet by the myrrh and cassia of many tears.

    De Profundis

    Oscar Wilde

  • Your lips have given it their sweetness of honey, their fragrance of myrrh.

    Cleo The Magnificent

    Louis Zangwill

  • Did ever man anoint himself with oil of myrrh to please his fellow?

  • Nicodemus brought a large quantity of myrrh and aloes, about a hundredweight.

    Jesus the Christ

    James Edward Talmage

  • Gold and sunlight, myrrh and incense, the tinkling of anklets.

    Gigolo

    Edna Ferber

British Dictionary definitions for myrrh

myrrh

noun
  1. any of several burseraceous trees and shrubs of the African and S Asian genus Commiphora, esp C. myrrha, that exude an aromatic resinCompare balm of Gilead (def. 1)
  2. the resin obtained from such a plant, used in perfume, incense, and medicine
  3. another name for sweet cicely (def. 1)
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Word Origin

Old English myrre, via Latin from Greek murrha, ultimately from Akkadian murrū; compare Hebrew mōr, Arabic murr
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

Word Origin and History for myrrh

n.

Old English myrre, from Latin myrrha (also source of Dutch mirre, German Myrrhe, French myrrhe, Italian, Spanish mirra), from Greek myrrha, from a Semitic source (cf. Akkadian murru, Hebrew mor, Arabic murr "myrrh"), from a root meaning "was bitter."

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper