zedoary, n.

zedoary
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zedoary_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zedoarynoun

## Earlier version

- zedoary in OED Second Edition (1989)

## In other dictionaries

- zeduārīe, n. in Middle English Dictionary

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zedoary mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zedoary. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the noun zedoary?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750 | 0.089
1760 | 0.086
1770 | 0.08
1780 | 0.073
1790 | 0.07
1800 | 0.047
1810 | 0.043
1820 | 0.031
1830 | 0.023
1840 | 0.016
1850 | 0.012
1860 | 0.01
1870 | 0.0092
1880 | 0.009
1890 | 0.0085
1900 | 0.008
1910 | 0.0073
1920 | 0.0074
1930 | 0.0066
1940 | 0.0065
1950 | 0.0057
1960 | 0.0052
1970 | 0.0054
1980 | 0.0059
1990 | 0.0058
2000 | 0.0058
2010 | 0.0058

### How is the noun zedoary pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɛdəʊəri/
ZED-oh-uh-ree

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɛdoʊˌɛri/
ZED-oh-air-ee

### Where does the noun zedoary come from?

Earliest known use

Old English

The earliest known use of the noun zedoary is in the Old English period (pre-1150).

zedoary is a borrowing from Latin.

Etymons: Latin zedoarium, zedoara, zeduar.

### Nearby entries

1. zebra woodpecker, n. 1884–
2. zebrina, n. 1846–
3. zebrine, adj. a1810–
4. zebroid, adj. & n. 1881–
5. zebrule, n. 1899–
6. zebu, n. 1771–
7. zecchino, n. 1572–
8. Zechstein, n. 1798–
9. zed, n. c1175–
10. zedbed, n. 1954–
11. zedoary, n.Old English–
12. zedonk, n. 1961–
13. zee, n. 1580–
14. Zeelander, n. c1400–
15. Zeelandic, adj. 1802–
16. Zeelandish, adj. 1593–
17. Zeeman, n. 1897–
18. zeep, n. 1878–
19. zeep, v. 1886–
20. zeeping, adj. 1895–
21. zef, adj. 1990–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: Latin zedoarium, zedoara, zeduar.
Originally (in Old English, in α forms) < post-classical Latin zedoara, zedoare (see below);

subsequently either reinforced or reborrowed partly (in β forms) < post-classical Latin zedoara, zedoare, zeduar, cidoar…
Originally (in Old English, in α forms) < post-classical Latin zedoara, zedoare (see below);

subsequently either reinforced or reborrowed partly (in β forms) < post-classical Latin zedoara, zedoare, zeduar, cidoar, cydoar (from 10th cent. in continental sources, from 12th cent. in British sources),

and partly (in γ forms) < post-classical Latin zedoarium, zeduarium, zedoaria, zeduaria (frequently from 12th cent. in British and continental sources),

all < Arabic zadwār, zidwār, jadwār < Persian zadwār (also jadwār).

Compare setwall n., ultimately a borrowing of the same Arabic word.

### Notes

Foreign-language parallels
Compare:
(i) Anglo-Norman and Middle French zedoar, Old French sydoare, zidoare, citouar, (with prosthetic vowel) ecidoiare, Middle French zedouar, zeduar (13th cent.), Italian †çedoara (beginning of the 14th cent.), and also Middle Dutch sēdeware, zēdeware, zēduare, etc. (Dutch zedoar), (with elision of medial syllable) zēwaer, zeeuwer (Dutch zever), Middle Low German sēdewer, sēduer, sēduwer, Old High German zitwar (Middle High German zitwar, German Zitwer);
(ii) Anglo-Norman cedewarie (13th cent.), Middle French zedoaire, zedoayre, zedouaire, zedouarie, zeduaire, zeduari (French zédoaire), Old Occitan zeduari, Spanish zedoaria, †zedoario (both end of the 15th cent.), Portuguese zedoária (1516), Italian zettovario (early 14th cent.; end of the 13th cent. as çedaria in sense ‘zirumbet’).
Specific forms
With the forms zedorie, zedory at γ forms and zedoria at δ forms perhaps compare ‑ory suffix2, and also French †zedorie (early 17th cent.).
Continuity of use
It is unlikely that there is continuity between Old English and later use. The following 13th-cent. example (in a Latin context) probably shows an instance of the Latin word rather than the English (in β forms):

1. 1291–2

   > In j quart. Zeduar, 3 1/2 d.

   in F. R. Chapman, Sacrist Rolls of Ely (1907) vol. II. 4 (Middle English Dictionary)

## Meaning & use

1. Old English–
   Any of several species of the genus Curcuma (family Zingiberaceae), esp. C. zedoaria, which are native to south Asia and have aromatic, tuberous rhizomes. Also: the rhizome of such a plant, used in cooking and (formerly) as a medicinal agent.
   Cf. setwall n. 1, zerumbet n.
   The rhizomes of this plant were sometimes distinguished as long zedoary and round zedoary by apothecaries, depending on their shape.
   See also yellow zedoary n.
   1. OE

      > To wensealfe..nim garleaces godne dæl; cnuca, & wring þurh clað on gemered hunig; þonne hit swiðe gesoden sy, þonne do ðu pipor & sideware, gallengar & gingifre.

      Lacnunga (2001) vol. I. xxx. 18
   2. OE

      > To eahsealfe: nim aluwan & sidewaran, lawerberian & pipor.

      Lacnunga (2001) vol. I. xxxvii. 22
   3. ?c1425

      > Take..of clowes, of maces, of notemuges, of gynger, of zedoare [Latin zedoare], [etc.].

      translation of Guy de Chauliac, Grande Chirurgie (Paris MS.) (1971) 158 (Middle English Dictionary)
   4. a1475

      > Oþir men don herto femigreke, nigelle, and zedwarie.

      translation of Gilbertus Anglicus, Compendium Medicinæ (Wellcome MS.) (1991) 152 (Middle English Dictionary)
   5. a1500

      > Hoc zeduarium, zeduarye.

      in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker, Anglo-Saxon & Old English Vocabulary (1884) vol. I. 714/11
   6. ?1550

      > Zedwary, chawed..and swallowed..taketh awaye the grefe of the bely.

      H. Llwyd, translation of Pope John XXI, Treasury of Healthe sig. I.vi
   7. 1560

      > After that you haue eaten Garlike, Leekes, or Onions,..eate a piece of the roote of Zeduaria, and you shall not smell at all.

      W. Ward, translation of G. Ruscelli, 2nd Part Secretes Alexis of Piemont 39
   8. 1655

      > Take for a Man forty graines of the best Jollop grated, and of Sedoary five graines.

      Natura Exenterata 244
   9. 1674

      > If thou art troubled with Gripings or Inflation of the Belly, take of Zedoar, or Angelica-roots, or Orange-peels.

      translation of R. Minderer, Medicina Militaris vi. 66
   10. 1684

       > Zedoary is most powerfull against vitreous Phlegm.

       translation of T. Bonet, Guide to Practical Physician iii. 103
   11. 1736

       > Take..Zedoary Root 10 Grains.

       Complete Family-piece i. i. 39
   12. 1748

       > The druggists distinguish..the long zedoary and the round zedoary but they differ from one another only in shape, and seem to be different parts of the same root.

       W. Lewis, translation of Pharmacopoeia Royal Coll. Physicians Edinburgh 71
   13. 1773

       > Zedoary is the root of a plant said to be of the Ginger kind, growing in different parts of the East Indies, and brought to us chiefly from Bengal.

       W. Lewis, translation of C. Neumann, Chemical Works (ed. 2) vol. II. 201
   14. 1819

       > Zedoary,..the dry root [of Curcuma Zerumbet] appears to be the zedoaria of the shops in England.

       A. Rees, Cyclopædia vol. XXXIX
   15. 1866

       > C. aromatica and C. Zedoaria furnish Zedoary tubers,..used by the natives of India as aromatic tonics, and as a perfume.

       J. Lindley & T. Moore, Treasury of Botany vol. I. at Curcuma
   16. 1880

       > The undergrowth..consists of cardamom, wild ginger, zedoary, rattan, a small bamboo,..and a few ferns.

       C. R. Markham, Peruvian Bark v. 347
   17. 1901

       > 40 cwt zedory roots.

       Times of India 7 July 10/2
   18. 1936

       > Zedoary is a forgotten spice. A famous condiment of medieval times, it has dropped out of use almost completely.

       American Home February 42/2
   19. 1963

       > The Himalayan foothills are the home of the zedoary (Curcuma Zedoaria).

       Econ. Botany vol. 17 130/1
   20. 2015

       > Finely sliced fresh zedoary is added to salads or raw vegetables.

       J. Norman, Herbs & Spices (revised edition) 199/1
   food and cooking herbalism pharmacology
   1. zedoary Old English–
      Any of several species of the genus Curcuma (family Zingiberaceae), esp. C. zedoaria, which are native to south Asia and have aromatic, tuberous…
   2. setwall?c1225–1909
      Any of several species of the genus Curcuma (family Zingiberaceae), esp. C. zedoaria, which are native to south Asia and have aromatic, tuberous…
   3. curcuma 1617–
      a. Botany. A genus of Zingiberaceæ consisting of plants with perennial tuberous roots, furnishing various commercial substances, as zedoary, East…
   4. zerumbet 1640–
      The aromatic root of any of several plants of the genus Curcuma (family Zingiberaceae), esp. C. zedoaria, used (formerly) as a medicinal agent and…
   5. cassumunar 1693–
      The tuberous root of an East Indian plant (apparently Curcuma aromatica Salisb., C. Zedoaria Roxb.); it is warm, bitter and aromatic, smells like…
   6. yellow zedoary 1754–
      Wild turmeric, Curcuma aromatica, which is native to south Asia and has an aromatic, tuberous rhizome; (also) the root of this plant, typically…
   7. Bengal root 1826–
      In the names of plants, animals, and natural and artificial products native to, originating from… The tuberous root of either of two South Asian…
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. madder Old English–
      The root of the plant Rubia tinctorum, employed medicinally or as a source of colouring matter; the reddish-purple dyestuff or pigment prepared…
   2. zedoary Old English–
      Any of several species of the genus Curcuma (family Zingiberaceae), esp. C. zedoaria, which are native to south Asia and have aromatic, tuberous…
   3. setwall?c1225–1909
      Any of several species of the genus Curcuma (family Zingiberaceae), esp. C. zedoaria, which are native to south Asia and have aromatic, tuberous…
   4. liquorice c1275–
      The root of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra (also called liquorice root). Also: a preparation made from the evaporated juice of this root, used to…
   5. rhubarb a1400–
      The dried rootstock of any of various plants of the genus Rheum, typically imported to Europe from China and used medicinally as a purgative and…
   6. ireos c1400–1615
      The root of this, used in pharmacy; orris-root.
   7. liquorice-race c1400
   8. sage root a1500–
   9. maple root 1523–
      The root of the maple, formerly used medicinally.
   10. liquorice-root 1530–
   11. rhabarbarum 1533–
       The dried rootstock of any of various species of rhubarb, imported to Europe from Asia (esp. China) and used medicinally as a purgative; a…
   12. orris 1545–
       = orris root, n.
   13. turmeric 1545–
       The aromatic and pungent root-stock of an East Indian plant (see A.2), or the powder made of this, the chief ingredient in curry powder, used…
   14. cypress c1550
       The Sweet Cyperus or Galingale.
   15. pyrethrum 1562
       The root of pellitory, Anacyclus pyrethrum, or a preparation made from it, formerly used widely for medicinal purposes. Also: the plant itself. Now…
   16. China 1577–1894
       The thick tuberous root of any of several Eurasian climbing plants of the genus Smilax (family Smilacaceae), esp. S. china and S. glabra, used…
   17. bear root 1585–
       (The root of) any of various herbaceous plants typically used medicinally, originally including hellebore or false hellebore; (in later use) esp.…
   18. China root 1588–
       The thick tuberous root of any of several Eurasian climbing plants of the genus Smilax (family Smilacaceae), esp. S. china and S. glabra, used…
   19. orris root 1598–
       The fragrant rhizome of any of several irises of the Iris germanica group; a powdered preparation of such rhizomes, used in perfumery and formerly…
   20. red squill 1629–
       A variety of the squill or sea onion, Urginea maritima, with a pink-scaled bulb; (also) this bulb itself, or a preparation made from it, formerly…
   21. ginseng 1654–
       Originally: the fleshy root of the East Asian plant Panax ginseng, prized as a panacea in Chinese medicine. In later use also (frequently with…
   22. Chinean rhubarb 1657
       The dried rootstock of any of several rhubarbs (genus Rheum) native to China and used medicinally as a purgative and astringent; cf. Chinese rhubarb.
   23. ague root 1676–
       Any of several plants whose roots or rhizomes are used medicinally; spec. = ague-grass, n.
   24. poke root 1687–
       The root of Indian poke (Veratrum viride), or of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana); either of these plants.
   25. cassumunar 1693–
       The tuberous root of an East Indian plant (apparently Curcuma aromatica Salisb., C. Zedoaria Roxb.); it is warm, bitter and aromatic, smells like…
   26. nettle root 1707–
   27. valerian root 1747–
       attributive, as valerian oil, valerian root, valerian tea; valerian family, valerian order, valerian tribe, valerian-worts the order Valerianaceæ.
   28. belly-ache-root 1775–
       = angelica, n.
   29. Indian root 1775–
       †a. = Indian physic, n. (obsolete rare); b. the American spikenard, Aralia racemosa.
   30. Turkey rhubarb 1789–
       Medicinal rhubarb, n. A.I.1: see quot. 1866.
   31. sumbul 1791–
       Any of several plants with aromatic roots, spec. †(a) spikenard, Nardostachys jatamansi (obsolete); (b) musk root, Ferula moschata (formerly F. sumbul…
   32. serpentaria 1803–
       = serpentary, n. 2.
   33. Honduras sarsaparilla 1818–
       In the names of plants occurring in Honduras or products obtained from them. The dried root of the Central American climbing plantSmilax regelii…
   34. serpentary 1837–
       The plant Virginian Snake-root, Aristolochia Serpentaria; the root of this (in full, Serpentary Root = Serpentariæ Radix) used medicinally.
   35. stick rhubarb 1837–1929
       The dried rootstock of a variety of rhubarb, Rheum palmatum (family Polygonaceae), used medicinally as a purgative and astringent; (also) the long…
   36. sang 1843–
       = ginseng, n.
   37. savanilla 1856–
       In full Savanilla rhatany. A medicinal preparation made from the astringent root of the Central and South American plant Krameria ixine (see rhatany…
   38. manaca 1866–
       A South American shrub, Brunfelsia uniflora (family Solanaceae), the root of which is used in Brazil to treat syphilis, rheumatism, fevers, and…
   39. sanguinaria 1874–
       The blood-root, Sanguinaria canadensis; also the rhizome of this, used in medicine.
   40. gelsemium 1879–
       a. With capital initial. A genus of twining shrubs of the family Loganiaceæ. b. The roots of a plant of this genus (G. sempervirens), or a…
   41. Indian turmeric 1890–
       Applied to other products: †by English herbalists to the root of Tormentil (in obsolete. French souchet de bois, as distinct from souchet d'Inde…
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɛdəʊəri/
ZED-oh-uh-ree

### U.S. English

/ˈzɛdoʊˌɛri/
ZED-oh-air-ee

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

##### α.

1. Old English
   sideware

##### β.

1. late Middle English
   zedeware, zeduare
2. late Middle English–1600s
   zedoare
3. 1500s–1600s
   zedoar

##### γ.

(a)

1. late Middle English
   zedwarie
2. late Middle English–1500s
   zeduarye
3. 1500s
   zedoarye, zedwary
4. 1500s–1600s
   zeduarie
5. 1500s–1700s
   zedoarie
6. 1500s–
   zedoary
7. 1600s
   zedorie
8. 1600s–1700s
   zeduary
9. 1600s; 1800s
   sedoary
10. 1600s–
    zedory

(b) New English Dictionary (OED first edition) (1921) also records a form

1. late Middle English
   zeduarie

##### δ.

1. 1500s–1600s
   seduaria, zeduaria
2. 1500s–1700s
   zedoria
3. 1500s–1800s
   zedoaria

## Frequency

zedoary typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zedoary is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zedoary, n., 1750–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1750 | 0.089
1760 | 0.086
1770 | 0.08
1780 | 0.073
1790 | 0.07
1800 | 0.047
1810 | 0.043
1820 | 0.031
1830 | 0.023
1840 | 0.016
1850 | 0.012
1860 | 0.01
1870 | 0.0092
1880 | 0.009
1890 | 0.0085
1900 | 0.008
1910 | 0.0073
1920 | 0.0074
1930 | 0.0066
1940 | 0.0065
1950 | 0.0057
1960 | 0.0052
1970 | 0.0054
1980 | 0.0059
1990 | 0.0058
2000 | 0.0058
2010 | 0.0058

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. yellow zedoary, n. 1754–
   Wild turmeric, Curcuma aromatica, which is native…

zedoary, n. was revised in June 2018.

zedoary, n. was last modified in December 2024.