lovage
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English loveache, a folk-etymological alteration, after love and ache (“parsley”), of Anglo-Norman luvasche and Old French luvache, loveche et al., and Middle French levesche, from Latin levisticum, probably alteration of Latin ligusticum, substantivization of the neuter of Ligusticus (“Ligurian”), ultimately from Ancient Greek Λιγυστικός (Ligustikós, “Ligurian”), from Λίγυς (Lígus, “Ligurian”). This replaced the Old English name lufestiċe (literally “love-stitch”), which was also derived from levisticum and altered by folk-etymology.[1]
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈlʌvɪd͡ʒ/
Audio (Southern England) (file) - (General American) IPA(key): /ˈlʌvəd͡ʒ/
Noun edit
lovage (countable and uncountable, plural lovages)
- A perennial Mediterranean herb, Levisticum officinale, with odor and flavor resembling celery.
- A liquor made from this herb.
- Various species in the genus Ligusticum (generally with an adjective to differentiate them from Levisticum)
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
a Mediterranean herb
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References edit
- ^ “lovage”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
Further reading edit
Anagrams edit
Middle English edit
Noun edit
lovage
- Alternative form of loveache