| Hellebore | n. [ L. helleborus, elleborus, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;; cf. F. hellébore, ellébore. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial herbs (Helleborus) of the Crowfoot family, mostly having powerfully cathartic and even poisonous qualities. Helleborus niger is the European black hellebore, or Christmas rose, blossoming in winter or earliest spring. Helleborus officinalis was the officinal hellebore of the ancients. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Bot.) Any plant of several species of the poisonous liliaceous genus Veratrum, especially Veratrum album and Veratrum viride, both called white hellebore. [ 1913 Webster ] |