tormentil

[ tawr-men-til ]

noun

1. a low European plant, Potentilla erecta, of the rose family, having small, bright-yellow flowers, and a strongly astringent root used in medicine and in tanning and dyeing.

tormentil

/ ˈtɔːməntɪl /

noun

1. a rosaceous downy perennial plant, Potentilla erecta, of Europe and W Asia, having serrated leaves, four-petalled yellow flowers, and an astringent root used in medicine, tanning, and dyeing Also calledbloodroot

Word History and Origins

Origin of tormentil¹

1350–1400; Middle English tormentille < Medieval Latin tormentilla, equivalent to Latin torment ( um ) torment + -illa diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of tormentil¹

C15: from Old French tormentille, from Medieval Latin tormentilla, from Latin tormentum agony; referring to its use in relieving pain; see torment

Example Sentences

Tormentil, tor′men-til, n. a genus of plants, one species with an astringent woody root.

From Project Gutenberg

They made tea sometimes of the tormentil, whose little yellow flowers appear along the furrows.

From Project Gutenberg

The roots of bistort and tormentil, and bark of pomegranate, equal parts.

From Project Gutenberg

Joined with galls or tormentil, and given in sufficient quantity, it has not failed in any intermittents in which I have tried it.

From Project Gutenberg

The green leaves of the Tormentil are soft and fine, with a few downy hairs on the front.

From Project Gutenberg