laserpicium
laserpicium Lexical Profile
• noun
An extinct or presently unidentifiable species of giant fennel highly prized in classical antiquity, originally cultivated in the ancient Greek city of Cyrene in North Africa for its medicinal, culinary, and aromatic properties.
"Ancient Roman texts frequently praise laserpicium as a miraculous herb capable of curing various ailments, mourning its eventual extinction."
The pungent, resinous juice or spice extracted from the silphium plant, widely used in ancient Roman and Greek cooking as a high-status seasoning and meat tenderizer.
"The wealthy patrician ordered his cook to season the roasted dormice with a generous amount of ground laserpicium."
• Rhymes for laserpicium
Word Origin & Etymology
From Latin 'laserpicium' (also spelled 'laserpitium'), referring to the silphium plant or its juice, derived from 'laser' (the plant's resin) and possibly related to 'pix' (pitch).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.