Wormwood

See also: wormwood

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Proper noun

Wormwood (countable and uncountable, plural Wormwoods)

1. (Christianity) A star or angel that appears in the Book of Revelation, turning waters bitter and poisonous.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 8:10–11:

     And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
     And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

2. A surname.
   • 2013, Roald Dahl, Matilda, London: Puffin, →OCLC, page 86:

     Having got the address from the school records, Miss Honey set out to walk from her own home to the Wormwoods’ house shortly after nine.

Anagrams

• woodworm