mandrake en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈmændɹeɪk/
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English mandrake, mandroke, an alteration of mandragora with the ending -dragora reinterpreted as related to dragon and replaced with native drake, from Old English mandragora, from Medieval Latin mandragorās, from Ancient Greek μανδραγόρας (mandragóras).
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) Any plant of the genus Mandragora, certain of which are said to have medicinal or aphrodisiac properties; the root of these plants often resembles the shape of a small person, hence occasioning various mythic, magical, or occult uses.
[T]his is the true deſcription of the plant and therefore thoſe idle formes of the Mandrakes and Womandrakes, as they are fooliſhly ſo called, which have beene expoſed to publike view, both in ours and other lands and countries, are utterly deceitfull being the work of cunning knaves, onely to get mony by their forgery.
1640, John Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicvm: The Theatre of Plants, London, page 343:Pharmaceutically tested in recent times, mandrake show aphrodisiac properties.
1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 144:
-
(countable, uncountable) A root of a mandrake plant that resembled human form, especially one kept or used for magic or occult purposes.
Mandrakes were sometimes considered in the light of familiars. Witches kept both male and female specimens of the magic root in bottles[.]
1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 75:
- (countable, slang, uncountable) The drug methaqualone.
- (countable, uncountable) A kind of tiny demon immune to fire.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mandrakes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
mandrake root · wild mandrake · mandrakelike · American mandrake · mandrake shriek · mandrake wine · womandrake · mandrake apple
Relateds
Synonyms
mandragora · plant of Circe · mandragora · mandies · mandragora
Translations (62)
ar مَانْدْرَاكُورَا (botany) · ka მანდრაგორა (botany) · ar لُفَّاح (botany) · cmn 曼德拉草 (botany) · fr mandragore (mythology) · sh nadliška (botany) · az adamkökü (botany) · cs pokřín (botany) · az mandraqora (botany) · sh мандрагора (botany) · ar يَبْرُوح (botany) · fr mandragore (botany) · fi mandrake (botany) · tr adamotu (botany) · sh alrauna (botany) · nl mandragora (botany) · arc יַבְרוּחָא (botany) · cs pekřín (botany) · hy մանրագոր (botany) · no alruner (botany) · ru мандраго́ра (botany) · nl alruin (botany) · el μανδραγόρας (botany) · ro mandragoră (botany) · fi alruuna (botany) · sh буновина (botany) · mi manitareki (botany) · ja マンドラゴラ (botany) · fa استرنگ (botany) · da alrune (botany) · hu mandragóra (botany) · pl alrauna (botany) · fa مردمگیاه (botany) · sh bunovina (botany) · uk мандраго́ра (botany) · sh алрауна (botany) · sv alruna (botany) · de Alraune (botany) · yi ליבעפּעלע (botany) · ca mandràgora (botany) · ar بَيْض الْجِنّ (botany) · la mandragoras (botany) · grc μανδραγόρας (botany) · ar تُفَّاح الْمَجَانِين (botany) · cs mandragora (mythology) · pt mandrágora (mythology) · sh надлишка (botany) · ar تُفَّاح الْجِنّ (botany) · fa مهرگیاه (botany) · pl mandragora (botany) · it mandragora (botany) · syc ܝܲܒܼܪܘܼܚܵܐ (botany) · fa شابیزک (botany) · sh mandragora (botany) · es mandrágora (botany) · cmn 風茄 /风茄 (botany) · sk mandragora (botany) · he דּוּדָא (botany) · grc μώριος (botany) · fa سگکنک (botany) · pt mandrágora (botany) · gd mandrag (botany)