Licorice

/ˈlɪkərɪʃ/ noun

Definition

a black or red candy with a sweet flavor that comes from the root of a plant, or the plant root itself.

Etymology

From Greek 'glukus' (sweet) + 'rhiza' (root), becoming Old French 'licorice.' The literal meaning is 'sweet root'—and the plant really is used as sweetener!

Kelly Says

Licorice has been used in medicine for over 4,000 years in Ancient Egypt, and it's still added to many medicines today because it masks bitter tastes and soothes sore throats naturally.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.