OPOPANAX

opopanax

(noun) an odorous gum resin formerly used in medicines

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

opopanax (countable and uncountable, plural opopanaxes)

(obsolete) A gum resin obtained from the root of Opopanax chironium, formerly used in medicine.

A perfume made from the gum resin of various trees.

The popinac or opopanax tree (Acacia farnesiana, syn. Vachellia farnesiana), an acacia of America.

Source: Wiktionary


O*pop"a*nax, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. opopanax.]

Definition: The inspissated juice of an umbelliferous plant (the Opoponax Chironum), brought from Turkey and the East Indies in loose granules, or sometimes in larger masses, of a reddish yellow color, with specks of white. It has a strong smell and acrid taste, and was formerly used in medicine as an emmenagogue and antispasmodic. Dunglison.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

4 April 2025

GUILLOTINE

(verb) kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine; “The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country”


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Coffee Trivia

International Coffee Day (September 29) is an occasion to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events occurring in places across the world. A day to promote fair trade coffee and raise awareness for the coffee growers’ plight. Other countries celebrate this event on October 1.

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