hellebore

[ hel-uh-bawr, -bohr ]

noun

1. any of numerous plants of the genus Helleborus in the buttercup family, several of which, as the Christmas rose, are cultivated for their foliage and clusters of flowers as well as their tolerance of shade: all Helleborus species are toxic.
2. false hellebore.
3. any of several poisonous or medicinal substances extracted or prepared from these plants.

hellebore

/ ˈhɛlɪˌbɔː /

noun

1. any plant of the Eurasian ranunculaceous genus Helleborus, esp H. niger (black hellebore), typically having showy flowers and poisonous parts See also Christmas rose
2. any of various liliaceous plants of the N temperate genus Veratrum, esp V. album, that have greenish flowers and yield alkaloids used in the treatment of heart disease

Word History and Origins

Origin of hellebore¹

First recorded before 1000; Old English elleborum, from Latin (h)elleborus, (h)elleborum, reinforced by Old French ellebre, elebore, Middle English el(l)ebre, eleure, or directly from Medieval Latin eleborus, from Greek (h)elléboros; further origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of hellebore¹

C14: from Greek helleboros, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

After all, demure hellebores and the first early snowdrops are thrilling in their own way.

From Seattle Times

Today, most hellebores on nursery shelves are the product of complex hybridizing — as is evident in their alphabet soup nomenclature — resulting in larger, sometimes double, outward-facing flowers.

From Seattle Times

This year, she hung magnolia wreaths on the front doors and planted hellebore and evergreen shrubs in containers to soften the look of her stoop.

From Seattle Times

She’s accepted the realities of gardening a shady woodland, and now grows ferns, hydrangeas, Japanese maples, epimedium and hellebores that suit its conditions.

From Seattle Times

“I love mixing these green glasses with an unexpected color tablecloth,” she said about the pink-and-yellow paisley fabric, a vintage Indian textile that complements the peonies, hellebore and rhododendron arranged in the centerpiece.

From New York Times