Dictionary

hiera picra en · NOUN

Etymology

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

Meanings

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

Forms