Haemony

/ˈhiːməni/ noun

Definition

In Milton's 'Comus', a magical herb with healing and protective powers against dark magic and corrupting forces.

Etymology

From Greek 'haema' (blood) related to 'haematos' (of blood), possibly suggesting life-giving or vital properties; the term appears primarily in Milton's 1634 masque 'Comus' and may be his own literary creation.

Kelly Says

Haemony is totally fictional—Milton invented it for his poem—but it's a perfect example of how writers create words by taking real Greek roots (the blood-related 'haem-') and adding poetic magic to them, which is exactly how actual medical terminology developed too.

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