aconitum

[In Fr. aconit; Sp., Port., & Ital. aconito, fr. Lat. aconitum; Gr. ἀκόνιτον ( akoniton ) a poisonous plant growing on sharp steep rocks ἐν ἀκόναις (en akonais), or in a place called 'Ακόναι ( Akonai ), in Bithynia, or from ἄκων ( akōn ) = a dart, from its having long ago been used to poison darts with.] 1. Bot. Wolf's-bane, a genus of plants belonging to the order Ranunculaceæ, or Crowfoots. The species are generally from three to six feet high, with digitate and palmate leaves, and terminal spikes of blue or yellow flowers. The best known is the Monk's-hood (A. napellus). [ACONITE.] The Indian A. ferox , supposed to be only a variety of the former, is a more virulent poison than it, being acrid in a high degree. A. napellus and cammarum are diuretic. 2. Ord. Eng. Before the word aconite was naturalised in the language, aconitum was the term employed. Shakesp.: 2 Henry IV., Iv. 4. "As aconitum or rash gunpowder." a-con-the-ạ, s. [Gr. ἄκων ( akōn ) = a dart, and θέα (the a) = aspect.] Entom. Adolias a con the a, one of the Nymphal ide, from India and Java. The caterpillar has long projecting spines.