from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Hellebore \Hel"le*bore\, n. [L. helleborus, elleborus, Gr. ?, ?;
cf. F. hell['e]bore, ell['e]bore.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Bot.) A genus of perennial herbs ({Helleborus}) of the
Crowfoot family, mostly having powerfully cathartic and
even poisonous qualities. {Helleborus niger} is the
European black hellebore, or Christmas rose, blossoming in
winter or earliest spring. {Helleborus officinalis} was
the officinal hellebore of the ancients.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Bot.) Any plant of several species of the poisonous
liliaceous genus {Veratrum}, especially {Veratrum album}
and {Veratrum viride}, both called {white hellebore}.
[1913 Webster]