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senna

[ sen-uh ]

noun

  1. any plant, shrub, or tree belonging to the genus Cassia, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and large clusters of flowers.
  2. any of various cathartic drugs consisting of the dried leaflets of certain of these plants, as one drug Alexandrian senna derived from C. acutifolia, or another Tinnevelly senna derived from C. angustifolia.


Senna

1

/ ˈsɛnə /

noun

  1. SennaAyrton19601994MBrazilianSPORT AND GAMES: racing driver Ayrton (ˈɛətən). 1960–94, Brazilian racing driver: world champion (1988, 1990, 1991)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


senna

2

/ ˈsɛnə /

noun

  1. any of various tropical plants of the leguminous genus Cassia , esp C. angustifolia ( Arabian senna ) and C. acutifolia ( Alexandrian senna ), having typically yellow flowers and long pods
  2. senna leaf
    the dried leaflets of any of these plants, used as a cathartic and laxative
  3. senna pods
    the dried fruits of any of these plants, used as a cathartic and laxative
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of senna1

1535–45; < New Latin < Arabic sanā
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Word History and Origins

Origin of senna1

C16: via New Latin from Arabic sanā
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Example Sentences

In recent years laxatives have had a mainstream makeover: skinny teas and candies containing senna—an herbal laxative—were popular on Instagram several years ago.

Whether or not they actually suggested it, the “black ball” recipe contains dried raisins and figs, olive oil, charcoal, glycerin, senna and slippery elm.

Other recent blooms include a native grass called needle grama, brittle creosote, desert senna, Acton encelia or brittlebush, and big galleta grass.

Another detox tea with no senna is promoted on its website.

They include various asclepias, tithonia, giant coneflower and the Maryland wild senna, the last a native plant deserving much more garden use.

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