gentian

[ jen-shuhn ]

noun

1. any of several plants of the genera Gentiana, Gentianella, and Gentianopsis, having usually blue, or sometimes yellow, white, or red, flowers, as the fringed gentian of North America, or Gentiana lutea, of Europe. Compare gentian family.
2. any of various plants resembling the gentian.
3. the root of G. lutea, or a preparation of it, used as a tonic.

gentian

/ ˈdʒɛnʃən /

noun

1. any gentianaceous plant of the genera Gentiana or Gentianella , having blue, yellow, white, or red showy flowers
2. the bitter-tasting dried rhizome and roots of Gentiana lutea ( European or yellow gentian ), which can be used as a tonic
3. any of several similar plants, such as the horse gentian

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentian¹

1350–1400; Middle English gencian < Latin gentiāna; said to be named after Gentius, an Illyrian king

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentian¹

C14: from Latin gentiāna; perhaps named after Gentius, a second-century bc Illyrian king, reputedly the first to use it medicinally

Example Sentences

These included resveratrol, found in foods such as grapes, peanuts, and cranberries, and amarogentin, a compound from the gentian plant considered one of the most astringent tastes in the world.

From Science Magazine

For example, at Klickitat Trail, you’ll see mock orange, blue aster, gentian, buttercups and desert parsley starting in late April into early June.

From Seattle Times

It also consists of no artificial flavors and only natural ingredients including riesling white-grape juice concentrate, gentian root extract and lemon balm extract.

From Los Angeles Times

They came to a grassy hill dotted with gentians and pink ground orchids, and began to climb.

From Literature

Mix black tea, lemon juice, honey syrup, spicy ginger syrup and gentian root tea in a cocktail shaker with ice.

From New York Times