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ague root

ague root

9.9
A North American plant with small white flowers sometimes used in herbal medicine
  • noun
  • /ˈeɪɡ juː ruːt/
  • Archaic
translation icon : raíz de ague
  • The delicate white flowers of the ague root bloom in early summer across southeastern woodlands.

Examples

  • Traditional herbalists sometimes used ague root to treat fevers and digestive complaints.

  • Many species related to ague root are valued for their ornamental and medicinal properties.

  • The herbalist recommended ague root for its medicinal properties.

  • Many people use ague roots in traditional remedies.

  • Traditional herbalists sometimes used ague root to treat fevers and digestive complaints.

  • Many species related to ague root are valued for their ornamental and medicinal properties.

  • The delicate white flowers of the ague root bloom in early summer across southeastern woodlands.

Synonyms

Aletris farinosa
vsague root
  • Specialized
9.9

A small plant from the southeastern United States with white flowers used in herbal medicine

is the regional common name used in herbal contexts
ague grass
vsague root
  • Archaic
9.9

A herb from the southeastern United States with rough outer flower parts and small white flowers

is the botanical or scientific term used for the same plant

Surface Forms

ague root singular
ague roots plural

Morphology

ague + root

Assuming a learner knows the constituents, 'ague' (fever) + 'root' composes directly to mean a root associated with or used for ague (i.e., a medicinal plant for fever). The noun+noun naming pattern is a standard, compositional English pattern, so the basic referential meaning is derivable even if the specific botanical details are not.

Etymology

Ague root gets its name from the old word ague, which meant 'fever', and from the plant's root, because people once used that root to help with fevers and chills. That's why the name now refers to a plant root used in herbal medicine.