Erbe
/ɛrb/noun
An obsolete or Middle English form of “herb,” meaning a plant used for food, medicine, or scent.
Did you know?The initial H in English “herb” was restored under the influence of Latin, even though it was historically silent in many English pronunciations.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰerbh-
“To sprout, grow, or produce vegetation”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phorbē
“Pasture, fodder, or plant food”
Classical Latin
Latin
herba
“Grass, green plants, or vegetation”
Old French
Old French
erbe
“Herb or useful plant; the initial Latin H was not pronounced”
Middle English
English
erbe
“A herb or plant used medicinally, aromatically, or as food”
Modern English
English
herb
“A plant valued for flavoring, medicine, fragrance, or other uses”