myrrh

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“
What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,

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Definitions (10)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun An aromatic gum resin obtained from several trees and shrubs of the genus Commiphora of India, Arabia, and eastern Africa, used in perfume and incense. Also called balm of Gilead.
  2. noun See sweet cicely.

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Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (1)

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Examples (50)

  • She floated closer in a cloud of patchouli and myrrh, her feet making no sound. —  SexyBeastIV
  • The body was now filled with spices--myrrh cassia, and other perfumes, frankincense excepted; and the opening was firmly closed. —  Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 455 Volume 18, New Series, September 18, 1852
  • And so when we have anointed him with myrrh, and set a garland of wool upon his head, we shall send him away to another city. —  The Moral Economy
  • Lady Torrington is one of those people whose garments smell of myrrh, aloes and cassia, and yet whose words are very swords, you know the sort I mean Lord Torrington is chasing his daughter," said Frank, "who has run away from home. —  Priscilla's Spies
  • Moreover, they offer gifts in keeping with Christ's greatness: "gold, as to the great King; they offer up incense as to God, because it is used in the Divine Sacrifice; and myrrh, which is used in embalming the bodies of the dead, is offered as to Him who is to die for the salvation of all" (Gregory, Hom. —  Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English mirre, from Old English myrrha, from Latin, from Greek murrha, of Semitic origin; see mrr in Semitic roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Now spelled according to the L.; early modern English mirre, from Middle English mirre, from Anglo-Saxon myrre, myrra = Old Saxon myrra = Dutch mirre = Old High German myrrā, Middle High German mirre, German myrrhe = Swedish Danish myrrha = Old French mirre, French myrrhe = Spanish mirra = Portuguese myrrha = Italian mirra, from Latin myrrha, murrha, murra, from Greek μύρρα, myrrh, the balsamic juice of the Arabian myrtle, from Arabic murr (= Hebrew mōr), myrrh, from murr, bitter. Cf. Marah.
 

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/mər/
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