MANDRAKES

Noun

mandrakes

plural of mandrake

Source: Wiktionary


MANDRAKE

Man"drake, n. Etym: [AS. mandragora, L. mandragoras, fr. Gr. mandragore.]

1. (Bot.)

Definition: A low plant (Mandragora officinarum) of the Nightshade family, having a fleshy root, often forked, and supposed to resemble a man. It was therefore supposed to have animal life, and to cry out when pulled up. All parts of the plant are strongly narcotic. It is found in the Mediterranean region. And shrieks like mandrakes, torn out of the earth, That living mortals, hearing them, run mad. Shak.

Note: The mandrake of Scripture was perhaps the same plant, but proof is wanting.

2. (Bot.)

Definition: The May apple (Podophyllum peltatum). See May apple under May, and Podophyllum. [U.S.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

25 April 2024

TYPIFY

(verb) embody the essential characteristics of or be a typical example of; “The fugue typifies Bach’s style of composition”


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, the largest collection of coffee pots belongs to Robert Dahl (Germany) and consists of 27,390 coffee pots as of 2 November 2012, in Rövershagen, Germany.

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