elemi

[el-uh-mee]

noun

plural

elemis 

1. any of various fragrant resins from certain trees, especially Canarium commune, used chiefly in the manufacture of varnishes, lacquers, ointments, and in perfumery.

elemi

/ ˈɛlɪmɪ /

noun

1. any of various fragrant resins obtained from tropical trees, esp trees of the family Burseraceae: used in making varnishes, ointments, inks, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of elemi¹

1535–45; short for gum elemi < New Latin gummi elimī; compare Arabic allāmī the elemi

Word History and Origins

Origin of elemi¹

C16: via Spanish from Arabic al-lāmi the elemi

Example Sentences

They also used resin from elemi, a tree that grows in rainforests in Africa and Asia.

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Many of the resins had antimicrobial properties — one bowl containing elemi and animal fat was inscribed “to make his odour pleasant” — or characteristics that promoted preservation.

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The researchers also identified more exotic ingredients, including dammar and elemi, resins extracted from hardwoods native to Southeast Asian rainforests thousands of kilometers from ancient Egypt.

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Some of the substances came from very far away — like dammar and elemi, types of resin that come from the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.

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The best kind, known as elemi, are shipped at Smyrna, where the 333 pulling and packing of figs form one of the most important industries of the people.

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