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aconite

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(ak′ə nīt′)

noun

any of a genus (Aconitum) of poisonous plants of the buttercup family, with blue, purple, or yellow hoodlike flowers; monkshood; wolfsbane
a rapidly acting poisonous drug usually made from the dried roots of a European monkshood (Aconitum napellus) and formerly used as a cardiac and respiratory sedative
also aconitum

Origin: ModL aconitum < L < Gr akoniton

See aconite in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun In both senses also called monkshood, wolfsbane.

Any of various, usually poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum, having tuberous roots, palmately lobed leaves, blue or white flowers with large hoodlike upper sepals, and an aggregate of follicles.
The dried leaves and roots of some of these plants, which yield a poisonous alkaloid that was formerly used medicinally.

Origin:

Origin: French aconit

Origin: , from Latin aconītum

Origin: , from Greek akonīton

Origin: , perhaps from neuter sing. of akonītos, without dust or struggle

Origin: : a-, without; see a-¹

Origin: + konis, dust

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