‖ agnus castus
(ˈægnəs ˈkæstəs)
[L. agnus, a. Gr. ἄγνος name of the tree, confused with ἁγνός chaste, whence the second word L. castus chaste.]
A tree, species of Vitex (V. Agnus Castus), once believed to be a preservative of chastity; called also Chaste-tree and Abraham's Balm (? Baum).
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. xv. (1495) 612 The herbe Agnus castus is alwaye grene, and the flowre therof is namly callyd Agnus castus, for wyth smelle and vse it makyth men chaste as a lombe. c 1400 Floure & Leafe 173 A braunch of Agnus castus eke bearing In her hand. 1741 Compl. Fam. Piece ii. iii. 386 Agnus Castus or the Chaste Tree. 1881 Stanley Chr. Instit. i. 2 The sacred river rushes through its thicket of tamarisk, poplar, willow and agnus-castus. |