hiera picra

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From New Latin hiera picra, from Ancient Greek ἱερᾱ́ πίκρᾱ (hierā́ píkrā, literally “sacred bitterness”).

Noun

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hiera picra (uncountable)

  1. (pharmacology, now historical) A warming cathartic medicine made from aloes and canella.
    • 1997, Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, Folio Society, published 2016, page 77:
      His hiera picra formula called for aloes, spices and herbs; the compound was made into an electuary.
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