Herb
(Herb) n. [OE. herbe, erbe, OF. herbe, erbe, F. herbe, L. herba; perh. akin to Gr. forbh` food,
pasture, fe`rbein to feed.]
1. A plant whose stem does not become woody and permanent, but dies, at least down to the ground,
after flowering.
Annual herbs live but one season; biennial herbs flower the second season, and then die; perennial herbs
produce new stems year after year.
2. Grass; herbage.
And flocks
Grazing the tender herb.
Milton. Herb bennet.
(Bot.) See Bennet. — Herb Christopher (Bot.), an herb whose root is used in nervous
diseases; the baneberry. The name is occasionally given to other plants, as the royal fern, the wood
betony, etc. — Herb Gerard (Bot.), the goutweed; — so called in honor of St. Gerard, who used
to be invoked against the gout. Dr. Prior. — Herb grace, or Herb of grace. (Bot.) See Rue. —
Herb Margaret (Bot.), the daisy. See Marguerite. — Herb Paris (Bot.), an Old World plant related
to the trillium commonly reputed poisonous. — Herb Robert (Bot.), a species of Geranium (G. Robertianum.)
Herbaceous
(Her*ba"ceous) a. [L. herbaceus grassy. See Herb.] Of or pertaining to herbs; having
the nature, texture, or characteristics, of an herb; as, herbaceous plants; an herbaceous stem.
Herbage
(Herb"age) n. [F. See Herb.]
1. Herbs collectively; green food beasts; grass; pasture. "Thin herbage in the plaims." Dryden.
2. (Law.) The liberty or right of pasture in the forest or in the grounds of another man. Blount.
Herbaged
(Herb"aged) a. Covered with grass. Thomson.
Herbal
(Herb"al) a. Of or pertaining to herbs. Quarles.
Herbal
(Herb"al) n.
1. A book containing the names and descriptions of plants. Bacon.
2. A collection of specimens of plants, dried and preserved; a hortus siccus; an herbarium. Steele.
Herbalism
(Herb"al*ism) n. The knowledge of herbs.
Herbalist
(Herb"al*ist), n. One skilled in the knowledge of plants; a collector of, or dealer in, herbs, especially
medicinal herbs.
Herbar
(Herb"ar) n. An herb. [Obs.] Spenser.
Herbarian
(Her*ba"ri*an) n. A herbalist.
Herbarist
(Herb"a*rist) n. A herbalist. [Obs.]
Herbarium
(Her*ba"ri*um) n.; pl. E. Herbariums L. Herbaria [LL., fr. L. herba. See Herb, and cf.
Arbor, Herbary.]
1. A collection of dried specimens of plants, systematically arranged. Gray.
2. A book or case for preserving dried plants.