iva

noun

ˈīvə,

ˈēvə

capitalized : a small genus of American herbs or shrubs (family Ambrosiaceae) with mostly opposite leaves and small greenish flowers and with the staminate and pistillate both in the same head

plural -s : any plant of the genus Iva see marsh elder sense 2

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from iva (specific epithet of Ajuga iva), probably from French ive ground pine, from Middle French, from Old French yve, from if yew, of Celtic origin; from its similarity in smell; akin to Old High German īwa yew