Webster's English Dictionary

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gentian

gen.tian \'jen-ch*n\ n [ME gencian, fr. MF gentiane, fr. L gentiana] 1: any 
   of two genera (Gentiana and Dasystephana) of herbs of a  family 
   (Gentianaceae, the gentian family) with opposite smooth leaves and showy 
   usu. blue flowers 2: the rhizome and roots of the yellow gentian (Gentiana 
   lutea) used  as a tonic and stomachic