GENTIAN

noun Etymology: Middle English gencian, from Anglo-French genciane, from Latin ~a Date: 14th century any of numerous herbs (family Gentianaceae, the ~ family, and especially genus Gentiana ) with opposite smooth leaves and showy usually blue flowers, the rhizome and roots of a yellow-flowered ~ ( Gentiana lutea ) of southern Europe that is used as a tonic, stomachic, and flavoring in vermouth