Definitions for contrayerva
con·tray·er·va

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Contrayervanoun

   A species of birthwort growing in Jamaica, where it is much used as an alexipharmick. Philip Miller

   Etymology: contra, against, and yerva, a name by which the Spaniards call black hellebore; and, perhaps, sometimes poison in general.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Contrayerva

   Contrayerva, or contrajerva, is the medicinal rhizome of various tropical Central American and South American species of Dorstenia in the family Moraceae, mainly Dorstenia contrajerva and the closely related Dorstenia drakena but also Dorstenia brasiliensis. The word contrayerva means “counter herb” in Spanish. It was given this name since a 16th-century description (see below) claimed that the leaves of a herb (yerva = hierba) were used by South American Indians to counter the deadly poisonous effect of the same herb (“contra yerva”) when used as an arrow poison. Seventeenth century herbalists and botanists identified this herb as the aromatic root that had been brought from Peru to England by Francis Drake, and claimed that it was an antidote against all kinds of poison. By the late 18th century contrayerva had lost its reputation as an antidote, but it continued to be listed in European and American pharmacopoeias and herbals until the 1920s as a gentle stimulant, tonic and diaphoretic. It is still used in folk medicine in Central and South America.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Contrayervanoun

   a species of Dorstenia (D. Contrayerva), a South American plant, the aromatic root of which is sometimes used in medicine as a gentle stimulant and tonic

2. Etymology: [Sp. contrayerba, literally, a counter herb, hence, an antidote for poison, fr. l. contra + herba herb.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Contrayerva

   In botany, the contrayerva, or contrajerva, is the root and scaly rhizome of various tropical American species of Dorstenia in the family Moraceae, a South American plant, the aromatic root of which is sometimes used in medicine as a gentle stimulant and tonic. It was previously used as an antidote to snake bites. The name is used in Jamaica to refer to a species of Birthwort still believed to have antidotal properties. The root is smaller than that of the iris, reddish outside and white inside, knotty, and fibrous. To be of use, it must be new, heavy, and of a dusky red color. Its odor resembles that of fig leaves. Its taste is aromatic, accompanied with some acrimony. The contrayerva root was formerly considered by many writers to be one of the best anti-epidemics known. Dr. Nathaniel Hodges, in his treatise of the Great Plague of London, had a recipe which he said was very successful, and of which this root was one of the chief ingredients.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Contrayerva

   kon-tra-yėr′va, n. a stimulating and tonic aromatic root of tropical America. [Sp. contrayerba—L. contra, against, herba, a herb.]

How to pronounce contrayerva?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say contrayerva in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of contrayerva in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of contrayerva in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

References

1. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=contrayerva
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrayerva
3. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrayerva
4. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=contrayerva
5. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=contrayerva