zedoary

American  

[zed-oh-er-ee] / ˈzɛd oʊˌɛr i /

noun

1. an East Indian drug consisting of the rhizome of either of two species of curcuma, Curcuma zedoaria or C. aromatica, used as a stimulant.

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zedoary British  

/ ˈzɛdəʊərɪ /

noun

1. the dried rhizome of the tropical Asian plant Curcuma zedoaria, used as a stimulant and a condiment: family Zingiberaceae

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Etymology

Origin of zedoary

1425–75; late Middle English zeduarye < Medieval Latin zeduāria < Arabic zadwār (< Persian ) + Latin -ia -y ³

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zedoary

From ajowan to zedoary, there are hundreds of other herbs available, in 17th century Herbalist John Parkinson's phrase, "for use and delight."

From Time Magazine Archive

Curcuma zedoaria.—This plant furnishes zedoary tubers, much used in India as aromatic tonics.

From Catalogue of Economic Plants in the Collection of the U. S. Department of Agriculture by William Saunders

Let Araby be in amomum rich; “And cinnamon, and zedoary produce; “Incense which through the wood exudes; and flowers “Of vary'd teints,—while Myrrha too it bears: “Too great the price which this new tree procur'd.

From The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Vols. I & II by J. J. Howard

We read of pomegranates, nutmegs, almonds, dates, figs, liquorice, aniseed, cinnamon, and zedoary, an Eastern plant used as a stimulant.

From Of Six Mediæval Women To Which Is Added A Note on Mediæval Gardens by Alice Kemp-Welch

The old London Pharmacopœia gave a simpler receipt, in which the ingredients were zedoary and saffron, distilled with crabs' claws, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom seeds, and sugar.

From Sir Walter Ralegh A Biography by W. (William) Stebbing

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