Sagewort
/ˈseɪdʒ.wɜːrt/noun
Any of several plants of the genus Artemisia, named for their sage-like scent or appearance.
Did you know?The ending “-wort” once meant a medicinal plant or herb in Old English, which is why it survives in names such as mugwort, St. John’s wort, and liverwort.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*seh₂l-
“Whole, healthy, or safe; a proposed ancient root behind the Latin family associated with healing”
Classical Latin
Latin
salvia
“Sage, the healing herb; related to salvus, meaning healthy or safe”
Old French
Old French
sauge
“Sage, inherited through Latin salvia”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*wurtiz
“Root or plant; the ancestor of the Germanic herb-name element later appearing as wort”
Old English
Old English
wyrt
“Plant, herb, or root”
Modern English
English
sagewort
“A compound name for Artemisia species and related sage-scented plants”