wormwood

[ wurm-wood ]

noun

1. any composite herb or low shrub of the genus Artemisia.
2. a bitter, aromatic plant, A. absinthium, of the Old World, used as a vermifuge and a tonic, and as an ingredient in absinthe.
3. something bitter, grievous, or extremely unpleasant.

wormwood

/ ˈwɜːmˌwʊd /

noun

1. Also calledabsinthe any of various plants of the chiefly N temperate genus Artemisia, esp A. absinthium, a European plant yielding a bitter extract used in making absinthe: family Asteraceae (composites)
2. something that embitters, such as a painful experience

Word History and Origins

Origin of wormwood¹

1350–1400; late Middle English wormwode ( worm, wood ¹ ); replacing Middle English wermode, Old English wermōd; cognate with German Wermut; vermouth

Word History and Origins

Origin of wormwood¹

C15: changed (through influence of worm and wood ¹) from Old English wormōd, wermōd; related to Old High German werrnuata, German Wermut; see vermouth

Example Sentences

The taste is intense, with hard-hitting wormwood flavor and lemony undertones.

From The Daily Beast

Strong fennel and wormwood hit the back of my tongue along with a dryness from the barrel and hints of citrus from the chamomile.

From The Daily Beast

But voters are more likely to go for Gabriel Ebert, who plays Mr. Wormwood in Matilda the Musical with bitter fun.

From The Daily Beast

Like, Mrs. Wormwood very much wants to be the center of attention.

From The Daily Beast

In a strong man's love for his home and his mate was it rooted, and drew therefrom the wormwood of love thwarted and spurned.

From Project Gutenberg

The Act of 1903 had the cordial support of a small minority of Nationalists; but to the majority it was gall and wormwood.

From Project Gutenberg

From a tincture prepared from the dried tops of wormwood boiled in proof spirit.

From Project Gutenberg

Lopez was going to send food and wine into the house, which would be gall and wormwood to her father.

From Project Gutenberg

This last interruption, in which even His mother joined, must have been gall and wormwood to that tender heart.

From Project Gutenberg