What does "valerian" mean?
A hardy perennial flowering plant, Valeriana officinalis, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers.
Valerian
name, noun
name, noun ·4 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A hardy perennial flowering plant, Valeriana officinalis, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers.
- Grammar: valerian is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: allheal, aromatic, botanical, cat thyme.
- Useful contrasts: excitant, odorless, stimulant.
- Usage evidence: Valerian was the first Roman Emperor to be captured as a prisoner of war.
How to use "valerian"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "valerian" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "valerian" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "valerian" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "valerian" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "allheal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "valerian", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A hardy perennial flowering plant, Valeriana officinalis, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers. countable, uncountable
"In the event of anyone wishing to invoke the very Prince of Spirits, the following ingredients were prescribed to be burnt - Juice of Hypericon, Saffron, Artemisia, and the root of Valerian."
- 2 a plant of the genus Valeriana having lobed or dissected leaves and cymose white or pink flowers wordnet
- 3 More generally, any plant of the genus Valeriana. countable, uncountable
- 4 The root of Valeriana officinalis, used in herbal medicine. uncountable
- 5 An extract of the dried roots of the Valeriana officinalis used in herbal medicine as a sedative. countable, uncountable
Proper Noun
- 1 a Roman cognomen, notably borne by Publius Licinius Valerianus, a Roman emperor
- 2 A transliteration of the Russian male given name Валериа́н (Valerián).
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Valerian was the first Roman Emperor to be captured as a prisoner of war."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "valerian"?
Common synonyms include: allheal, aromatic, botanical, cat thyme, fragrant, garden valerian.
How do you use "valerian" in a sentence?
Valerian was the first Roman Emperor to be captured as a prisoner of war.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Old French valeriane or Medieval Latin valeriāna, a reinterpretation of what is found as German Baldrian after valēre (“to be powerful”) or also the gentilic name Valerius, which is seemingly borrowed in the Dark Age period from the late 6ᵗʰ to early 8ᵗʰ century from Turkic or Proto-Mongolic, when the Pannonian Avars were direct neighbours to the Germans, notably also present in Hungarian bojtorján (“burdock”), ultimately from Proto-Mongolic, reflected as Middle Mongol ᠪᠠᠯᠴᠢᠷᠭᠠᠨᠠ (balčirɣan-a, “false hellebore; angelica”), composed as ᠪᠠᠯᠴᠢᠷ (balčir, “infant; young, tender, fresh, rank”) + plant name suffix ᠭᠠᠨᠠ (-ɣana), Mongolian балчиргана (balčirgana, “false hellebore; angelica”), composed as балчир (balčir, “infant; young, tender, fresh, rank”) + plant name suffix -гана (-gana). See Ottoman Turkish بالدران (baldıran, “hemlock”) for Turkic cognates.
Etymology 2
From Latin Valerianus, Valeria.
Etymology 3
From Russian Валериа́н (Valerián).