fetid bugbane
- noun
:
cimífuga fétida
- The strong odor of fetid bugbane makes it easy to identify in the wild.
Examples
-
Gardeners often avoid planting fetid bugbane because of its disagreeable smell.
-
Researchers study the medicinal properties of fetid bugbane despite its unpleasant fragrance.
-
The fetid bugbane is often found in damp areas.
-
Many gardeners avoid planting fetid bugbane due to its smell.
-
Gardeners often avoid planting fetid bugbane because of its strong, unpleasant smell.
-
The distinct, foul odor of fetid bugbane is a clear indicator of its presence in the garden.
-
Because of its disagreeable fragrance, fetid bugbane is often not preferred by landscape designers.
Synonyms
A plant that lives for many years in Siberia and eastern Asia with smelly pale green flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'fetid' means strongly smelling and 'bugbane' is a plant, so the phrase denotes a bugbane that smells bad. The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and follows a common compositional pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand it.
Etymology
Fetid bugbane comes from the word fetid (meaning 'bad smell') and bugbane (a 'thing that chases bugs'). Its green-white flowers give a very strong, unpleasant smell that seems to drive insects away, so the name points to a stinky plant that 'repels insects'.
