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

Example Sentences

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

And all carried rue and wormwood in their hands, and myrrh and zedoary in their mouths, as protection against infection.

From Royalty Restored by Molloy, J. Fitzgerald (Joseph Fitzgerald)

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 Howard, J. J.

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 Stebbing, W. (William)

There's wormwood, woodsorrel, masterwort, zedoary, and angelica; and lastly, there is a little bottle of the sovereign preservative against the plague, as prepared by the great Lord Bacon, and approved by Queen Elizabeth.

From Old Saint Paul's A Tale of the Plague and the Fire by Ainsworth, William Harrison