aconite

From French aconit, from Latin aconītum, from Ancient Greek ἀκόνιτον (akóniton).

• IPA^(key): /ˈæ.kə.naɪt/

• Audio (US):

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aconite (countable and uncountable, plural aconites)

1. The herb wolfsbane, or monkshood; any plant of the genus Aconitum, all the species of which are poisonous.
   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 112:

     Witches always anointed themselves with ointments before departing up the chimney to their Sabbaths. One such ointment was composed of Aconite, Belladonna, Water Parsley, Cinquefoil and Babies' Fat.

   • 1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 254:

     Rampion grown in the cottage garden made the children of the house quarrelsome; breathing deeply into a handful of mint refreshed your senses, but aconite could cause your death.

2. (toxicology) An extract or tincture obtained from Aconitum napellus, used as a poison and medicinally.

• (herb): wolfsbane, monkshood

• → Irish: acainít

• Aniceto, acinote, acetoin, antoeci, anoetic, antœci, Atencio, ace into

aconīte

1. vocative masculine singular of aconītus