contrayerva

English

Etymology

From Spanish contrayerba (“literally, a counter-herb, hence an antidote for poison”), from Latin contra + herba (“herb”).

Noun

contrayerva (usually uncountable, plural contrayervas)

1. Dorstenia contrajerva, a South American plant whose aromatic root is sometimes used in medicine as a gentle stimulant and tonic.
2. The root of the plant.

References

• “contrayerva”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.