ˈləvij noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English lovache, from Anglo-French, modification of Late Latin levisticum, alteration of Latin ligusticum, from neuter of ligusticus Ligurian, from Ligus Ligurian
: any of several aromatic perennial herbs of the family Umbelliferae: as
a. : a stout branched glabrous herb ( Levisticum officinale ) that is native to southern Europe and is sometimes cultivated for its rhizomes which are used as a carminative, its stalks and foliage which are used as a potherb, a substitute for celery, or a tea, its seeds which are used for flavoring and in confectionery, and its flowering tops which yield an oil used in flavoring and perfumery — called also sea parsley
b. : any of several white-flowered herbs of cold and temperate regions constituting a genus ( Ligustrum ) and having large aromatic roots ; especially : a coarse herb ( L. scoticum ) of rocky or marshy coasts of northwestern Europe and eastern No. America from Greenland to New York with fleshy leaves sometimes used as a potherb — called also Scotch lovage, sea parsley