arbor vitae

[ ahr-ber vahy-tee ]

noun

, Anatomy.

1. a treelike appearance in a vertical section of the cerebellum, due to the arrangement of the white and gray nerve tissues.

arbor vitae

/ ˈvaɪtiː; ˈɑːbɔː ˈviːtaɪ /

noun

1. any of several Asian and North American evergreen coniferous trees of the genera Thuja and Thujopsis, esp Thuja occidentalis, having tiny scalelike leaves and egglike cones See also red cedar

Word History and Origins

Origin of arbor vitae¹

C17: from New Latin, literally: tree of life

Example Sentences

Black spruce-tamarack bogs are extensive and arbor-vitae swamps occur commonly.

From Project Gutenberg

In the vicinity of Little Girl's Point arbor-vitae swamps are common, occupying the wet lower northern slopes of the high ridge.

From Project Gutenberg

However, in part of the region near Gogebic Lake extensive arbor-vitae swamps are reported to occur.

From Project Gutenberg

This situation may be considered transitional between the black spruce bog and the arbor-vitae swamp.

From Project Gutenberg

In a depression two miles south of Little Girl's Point is a mixed growth of arbor-vitae, black spruce, with a few black ashes.

From Project Gutenberg