▪ I. serpentary, n.
(ˈsɜːpəntərɪ)
Also 5 -ory.
[ad. late and med.L. serpentāria (in sense 1, scil. retorta, in sense 2 planta), fem. of serpentārius: see next.]
† 1. A kind of retort or still. Obs. (Cf. serpent n.)
| c 1450 M.E. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 183 On þe morowe dystylle hem þorow a serpentory. 1615 Markham Eng. Housew. 31 Take Saxifrage..two gallonds of good wine, or else wine lees, and put it into a slerpentary [sic]. |
2. The plant Virginian Snake-root, Aristolochia Serpentaria; the root of this (in full, Serpentary Root = Serpentariæ Radix) used medicinally.
| 1658 Phillips, Serpentary, a kind of herb called Vipers⁓grasse. 1706 ― (ed. Kersey), Serpentary-Wood, a kind of Wood that grows in Malabar,..and is commended for its Virtue in expelling Poison. 1837 T. Castle Pharmacopœia Lond. 170 Infusion of Serpentary... Diaphoretic, diuretic, stimulant. 1871 Garrod Mat. Med. (ed. 3) 308 Serpentariæ Radix. Serpentary Root. Ibid. 309 Serpentary contains a volatile oil and resin. |
▪ II. ˈserpentary, a. rare—1.
[ad. med.L. serpentāri-us, f. serpent-em serpent n.: see -ary.]
= serpentine a.
| 1681 Jordan London's Joy 10 Suppress Pamphlet-Contentions, for they are The Serpentary Seeds of Civil War. |