sweet cicely

noun

sweet cic·​e·​ly -ˈsi-s(ə-)lē How to pronounce sweet cicely (audio)
: any of a genus (Osmorhiza) of American and eastern Asian herbs of the carrot family that typically have thick fleshy roots and grow in moist woodlands

Examples of sweet cicely in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Partial shade Soil Type: Clay, loam, sand Soil pH: Neutral or acidic Sweet Cicely Native to Europe, sweet cicely, sometimes called sweet chervil, has delicate fern-like foliage that can be cooked like spinach. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025 Lloyd routinely collects elderflower, plantain leaf, nettle, sweet cicely and valerian, but other finds depend on the time of year. Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Feb. 2022 The section on sweet cicely describes its growing habitats (rural settlements, roadsides, parks) and leaf shape. Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 26 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

cicely from Latin seselis, from Greek

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweet cicely was in 1577

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Cite this Entry

“Sweet cicely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweet%20cicely. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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