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Glite Dictionary
herb of grace

herb of grace

1 9.9
A small European plant with strong, bitter-smelling leaves that may irritate skin
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : ruda
  • The herb of grace is often used in traditional medicine.

Examples

  • The gardener pointed to the herb of grace growing near the old stone wall.

  • Many people dislike the taste of herb of grace.

  • She wore a sprig of herb of grace as a symbol of remembrance.

  • Some traditional recipes call for a pinch of herb of grace for its bitterness.

  • My grandmother used to grow herb of grace in her garden for its unique scent.

  • Be careful when handling herb of grace, as it can irritate the skin.

  • In traditional medicine, herb of grace was valued for its supposed healing properties.

Synonyms

rue
vsherb of grace
2 9.6

An herb with a strong smell and bitter leaves that can irritate the skin

is a traditional or poetic label rather than the everyday name
Ruta graveolens
vsherb of grace
  • Specialized
9.9

A strong-smelling European herb with grey-green bitter leaves used in cooking and medicine

is the traditional common name rather than the formal scientific label

Surface Forms

herb of grace singular
herbs of grace plural

Morphology

herb + of + grace

The noun 'herb' makes it clear the phrase refers to a plant, so that portion is compositional, but 'grace' here is a traditional/figurative epithet that does not reveal the specific species or its properties. Because the phrase partly signals category (a herb) yet relies on cultural/lexical convention for its exact referent, it is only partially predictable to learners.

Etymology

The plant herb of grace may come from an old custom where people carried small sprigs during prayers or used them to bless homes, so the plant was linked with 'grace' and protection. That's why the name now refers to the bitter, strong-smelling herb people wore or kept for 'remembrance' and blessing.