mandrake

From Middle English mandrake, mandroke, an alteration of mandragora with the ending -dragora reinterpreted as related to dragon and replaced with native drake, from Old English mandragora, from Medieval Latin mandragorās, from Ancient Greek μανδραγόρας (mandragóras).

• IPA^(key): /ˈmændɹeɪk/

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mandrake (countable and uncountable, plural mandrakes)

1. Any plant of the genus Mandragora, certain of which are said to have medicinal or aphrodisiac properties; the root of these plants often resembles the shape of a small person, hence occasioning various mythic, magical, or occult uses.

   Synonyms: mandragora, plant of Circe

   • 1640, John Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicvm: The Theatre of Plants, London, page 343:

     [T]his is the true deſcription of the plant and therefore thoſe idle formes of the Mandrakes and Womandrakes, as they are fooliſhly ſo called, which have beene expoſed to publike view, both in ours and other lands and countries, are utterly deceitfull being the work of cunning knaves, onely to get mony by their forgery.

   • 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 144:

     Pharmaceutically tested in recent times, mandrake show aphrodisiac properties.

2. A root of a mandrake plant that resembled human form, especially one kept or used for magic or occult purposes.

   Synonym: mandragora

   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 75:

     Mandrakes were sometimes considered in the light of familiars. Witches kept both male and female specimens of the magic root in bottles[.]

3. (slang) The drug methaqualone.

   Synonym: (plural) mandies

4. (folklore) A kind of tiny demon immune to fire.

   Synonym: mandragora

• mandragora