aconite

American  

[ak-uh-nahyt] / ˈæk əˌnaɪt /

Also aconitum

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Aconitum, of the buttercup family, having irregular flowers usually in loose clusters, including species with poisonous and medicinal properties.

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aconite British  

/ ˈækəˌnaɪt, ˌækəˈnaɪtəm, ˌækəˈnɪtɪk /

noun

1. any of various N temperate plants of the ranunculaceous genus Aconitum, such as monkshood and wolfsbane, many of which are poisonous Compare winter aconite

2. the dried poisonous root of many of these plants, sometimes used as an antipyretic

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Other Word Forms

• aconitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of aconite

1570–80; < Latin aconītum < Greek akónīton leopard's-bane, wolfsbane

Example Sentences

Diners who fell quickly ill after eating at a restaurant outside Toronto likely ate food contaminated with toxic aconite, Canada health officials say.

From BBC • Sep. 1, 2022

He said people who suspect they have accidentally ingested aconite "can't get to the hospital fast enough".

From BBC • Sep. 1, 2022

In 2017, a San Francisco woman died after consuming herbal tea that had traces of aconite in it.

From BBC • Sep. 1, 2022

Diners presented to hospitals nearby with symptoms resembling that of aconite poisoning.

From BBC • Sep. 1, 2022

Digitalis, aconite, or veratrum viride may also be given in appropriate doses if with a high temperature there coexists great frequency of the pulse.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various