belladonna

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Definitions (7)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun A poisonous Eurasian perennial herb (Atropa belladonna) having usually solitary, nodding, purplish-brown, bell-shaped flowers and glossy black berries. Also called deadly nightshade.
  2. noun An alkaloidal extract or tincture derived from this plant and used in medicine.

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Examples

  • Well up in belladonna, opium, and poisons generally. —  A Study in Scarlet
  • Arthur, the lab technician, was mashing those furry white carrots-belladonna. —  Salem Falls
  • Antipertussal, or against Whooping-Cough Mix one drachm of powdered belladonna root, and two ounces of white sugar, together Dose_, six grains morning and evening for children under one year nine grains for those under two and three years of age; fifteen grains for those between five and ten; and thirty grains for adults Caution_, this should be prepared by a chemist, as the belladonna is a poison, and occasional doses of castor oil should be given while it is being taken 576. —  Enquire Within Upon Everything The Great Victorian Domestic Standby
  • Even the term "belladonna" is Italian for "beautiful lady,” but it refers to the herb from which the poison atropine was extracted. —  Archform: Beauty by L. E. Modessit Jr.
  • 18. belladonna: A Beauteous Lady True The poisonous belladonna is named for an anonymous Italian beauty -- perhaps the lethal Lucretia? —  VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol VI No 2
 

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Belladonna has been looked up 183 times, favorited 0 times, listed 35 times, and commented on 3 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Italian : bella, feminine of bello, beautiful (from Latin bellus; see deu-2 in Indo-European roots) + donna, lady; see Donna.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. New Latin, from bella donna, literally beautiful lady (the berries of the plant having been used by the Italian ladies as a cosmetic): bella, feminine of bello, beautiful (see belle); donna, from Latin domina, lady, feminine of dominus, lord. Ult. a doublet of beldam, q. v.
 

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/bɛləˈdɑnə/
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