St. John's wort

American  

[seynt-jonz wurt, wawrt] / ˌseɪntˈdʒɒnz ˌwɜrt, ˌwɔrt /

St. John's Wort,

noun

1. any of various plants or shrubs of the genus Hypericum, having yellow flowers and transparently dotted leaves.

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Etymology

Origin of St. John's wort

First recorded in 1745–55; so named because it was traditionally gathered on St. John's Eve to ward off evil

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

St. John's wort

As a result, people taking St. John’s wort might be more vulnerable to macular degeneration or even cataracts.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 19, 2023

I also tested aloe vera, St. John’s wort, rose hips, comfrey, all of these things are very acid.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2022

Ingredient apps like Think Dirty help aficionados weigh the difference between mugwort and St. John’s wort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2018

The first one I drank was tangerine and black currant juice dosed with rhodiola, St. John’s wort and albizia, which some believe fight anxiety and depression.

From New York Times ● Jul. 3, 2017

Among further plants possessing the same quality are the nettle and milfoil, and then there is the famous St. John's wort, popularly nicknamed "devil's flight."

From The Folk-lore of Plants by Dyer, T. F. Thiselton (Thomas Firminger Thiselton)