Hyssop
//ˈhɪ.səp// noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of several aromatic bushy herbs, of the genus Hyssopus, native to Southern Europe and once used medicinally. countable, uncountable
"The life of one plant would be affected by another. Rue was definitely hostile to basil, rosemary to hyssop, but coriander, dill and chervil lived on the friendliest of terms[.]"
- 2 bitter leaves used sparingly in salads; dried flowers used in soups and tisanes wordnet
- 3 Any of several similar plants countable, uncountable
- 4 a European mint with aromatic and pungent leaves used in perfumery and as a seasoning in cookery; often cultivated as a remedy for bruises; yields hyssop oil wordnet
- 5 Any of several similar plants:; Agastache foeniculum, blue giant hyssop. countable, uncountable
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- 6 The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.). US, countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 7 A plant used used for sprinkling of blood or water in purification rituals and at Passover, Origanum syriacum. countable, uncountable
Example
More examples"And dip a bunch of hyssop in the blood that is at the door, and sprinkle the transom of the door therewith, and both the door cheeks: let none of you go out of the door of his house till morning."
Etymology
Via Latin hȳsōpum, from Ancient Greek ὕσσωπος (hússōpos), of Semitic origin.
Related phrases
More for "hyssop"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.