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.
3. wild senna.

senna

¹

/ 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
   senna leaf the dried leaflets of any of these plants, used as a cathartic and laxative
3. senna pods
   senna pods the dried fruits of any of these plants, used as a cathartic and laxative

Senna

²

/ ˈsɛnə /

noun

1. SennaAyrton19601994MBrazilianSPORT AND GAMES: racing driver Ayrton (ˈɛətən). 1960–94, Brazilian racing driver: world champion (1988, 1990, 1991)

Word History and Origins

Origin of senna¹

1535–45; < New Latin < Arabic sanā

Word History and Origins

Origin of senna¹

C16: via New Latin from Arabic sanā

Example Sentences

Jacob Bernstein on why the Academy snubbed Bill Cunningham New York, Senna, and other crowd-pleasers.

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes he ate dry senna and raisins mixed on a plate, and we teased away the raisins, and he had to chew the senna "bare."

From Project Gutenberg

Concentrated infusion of senna, as generally met with, is nearly worthless.

From Project Gutenberg

Soak prunes over night in cold water to cover, add the senna leaves tied in cheesecloth, and cook slowly until prunes are tender.

From Project Gutenberg

As to the bowels, some senna and camomile tea at bedtime would help to clear them.

From Project Gutenberg

A mixture of castor and codliver oil, senna and asafœtida would have been nectar compared with it.

From Project Gutenberg