noun
or as·a·foet·i·da or as·sa·fet·i·da or as·sa·foet·i·da ˌasəˈfid.ədē, -fed.ə-, -fetə-, asˈf-, aas-, ais-; -fed.ədə, -fetədə ; also as·fet·i·da asˈf-, aasˈf-, aisˈf-
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English asafetida, from Medieval Latin asafoetida, from asa gum (of Iranian origin; akin to Persian azā mastic) + Latin foetida, feminine of foetidus fetid
: the fetid gum resin of various Persian and East Indian plants of the genus Ferula (especially F. assafoetida, F. foetida, or F. narthex ) occurring in the form of tears and dark-colored masses, having a strong odor and taste, and formerly used in medicine as an antispasmodic