wortcunning
nounUK /ˈwɜːtˌkʌnɪŋ/ · US /ˈwɝtˌkʌnɪŋ/
Etymology From wort + cunning.
1
Archaic Knowledge of the medicinal uses of plants and herbs.
- (see title)1864, Thomas Oswald Cockayne, Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England:
- Evidence of the universal belief in wortcunning at this period is found in one of the Proverbs of Alfred.1882 September 3, The Pharmaceutical Journal and Transactions, page 208:
4 more examples
- Perhaps the oldest word for penis in the English language is tarse, first recorded in an eleventh-century book of wort-cunning, that is, a medical treatise explaining the use of various herbs or worts.2003, Mark Morton, The Lover's Tongue: A Merry Romp Through the Language of Love and Sex:
- I think that the most important thing about wortcunning is learning to grow and harvest the herbs yourself.2004, Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard, →ISBN:
- Wort cunning is knowledge of the herbs.2008, Christopher Penczak, The Living Temple of Witchcraft Volume One: The Descent of the Goddess:
- You can find it in ancient Western magickal papyri, European wortcunning, Hoodoo, and Santería.2013, Christopher Penczak, The Witch's Heart: The Magick of Perfect Love & Perfect Trust, →ISBN, page 49: