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lignum vitae

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
lig·num vi·tae  (lgnm vt)
n. pl. lignum vitaes
1. Either of two tropical American trees (Guaiacum officinale or G. sanctum) having evergreen leaves and very heavy, durable, resinous wood.
2. The wood of either of these trees, the hardest of commercial woods.

[New Latin lignum vtae : Latin lignum, wood + Latin vtae, genitive of vta, life.]

lignum vitae [ˈvaɪtɪ]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) either of two zygophyllaceous tropical American trees, Guaiacum officinale or G. sanctum, having blue or purple flowers
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Forestry) the heavy resinous wood of either of these trees, which is used in machine bearings, casters, etc.: formerly thought to have medicinal properties See also guaiacum
[New Latin, from Late Latin, literally: wood of life]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.lignum vitaelignum vitae - hard greenish-brown wood of the lignum vitae tree and other trees of the genus Guaiacum
Guaiacum officinale, lignum vitae - small evergreen tree of Caribbean and southern Central America to northern South America; a source of lignum vitae wood, hardest of commercial timbers, and a medicinal resin
wood - the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
2.lignum vitaelignum vitae - small evergreen tree of Caribbean and southern Central America to northern South America; a source of lignum vitae wood, hardest of commercial timbers, and a medicinal resin
genus Guaiacum, Guaiacum - small genus of evergreen resinous trees or shrubs of warm and tropical America
guaiac, lignum vitae, guaiacum - hard greenish-brown wood of the lignum vitae tree and other trees of the genus Guaiacum
guaiacum - medicinal resin from the lignum vitae tree
angiospermous tree, flowering tree - any tree having seeds and ovules contained in the ovary
Translations
lignum vitae [ˈlɪgnəmˈviːtaɪ] Npalo m santo; (= tree) → guayaco m


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Bagnet briskly, "here we are, Lignum and myself"--she often speaks of her husband by this appellation, on account, as it is supposed, of Lignum Vitae having been his old regimental nickname when they first became acquainted, in compliment to the extreme hardness and toughness of his physiognomy--"just looked in, we have, to make it all correct as usual about that security.
 
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