WordGarden.iomandrake
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈændreɪk/
US
- /ˈmænˌdreɪk/
Meanings
Noun
a poisonous Mediterranean herb with a thick forked root
the mandrake root or plant as used in folklore, magic, or old herbal medicine
Beyond the definition
This is a poisonous plant best known from old stories and folklore. For a long time, people believed its root looked like a human body and held strange powers. One famous tale says it screams when pulled from the ground, and that the sound can drive a person mad. In real life, mandrakes are plants from the Mediterranean region and nearby parts of Asia, and they were sometimes used in old medicine, though they were dangerous. That mix of real danger and wild legend is why this plant appears so often in stories about magic, potions, and ancient remedies.
Mandrake is the common name for plants in the Mandragora group, especially those from the Mediterranean region and nearby parts of Asia. It is famous for its thick, often forked root, which people have long imagined as looking like a human body. That unusual shape gave the plant a powerful place in myth, where it was linked to magic, luck, danger, and hidden knowledge.
In ancient and medieval traditions, mandrake was connected with witchcraft, divination, and love potions. The best-known legend says that when the root is pulled from the ground, it lets out a deadly scream. Because of this story, people invented strange harvesting rituals, sometimes using ropes, animals, or other tricks to avoid hearing the plant's supposed cry.
Historically, mandrake was sometimes used in traditional medicine as a pain reliever, sedative, or anesthetic, but it was always risky. The plant contains tropane alkaloids, chemicals that can cause hallucinations, confusion, delirium, and even death if used the wrong way. So while the magic is mostly legend, the danger is real.
Today, mandrake still appears often in fantasy stories, games, and popular culture. Its magical reputation is mostly fictional, but the real plant remains a strong symbol of old herbal lore and the mystery of nature. If you come across it in a story, expect spells and trouble; if you come across the real plant, admire it carefully and from a safe distance.
Examples
- 1
Old medicine
The museum displayed a dried mandrake root beside other old medicinal plants.
- Phrasemandrake root
the part usually mentioned in old medicine and magic stories
- 2
Legend
In the legend, the mandrake screamed when it was pulled from the ground.
- 3
Fantasy game
The fantasy game lets players collect mandrakes to make powerful potions.
See also
Similar
- mandragora
Shades of meaning
- magical herb
- poisonous root
Contrast
- ordinary herb
Used with (collocations)
- mandrake root
- mandrake plant
- screaming mandrake
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- mandrakenoun
Forms
- mandrakespluralnoun