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i·bo·ga·ine

(ĭ-bōgə-ēn′, -ĭn)

An alkaloid drug, C₂₀H₂₆N₂O, that acts as a dopamine blocker and mitigates symptoms of withdrawal from various psychoactive drugs, including heroin and cocaine. Ibogaine is used to treat drug addiction in some countries, including Canada, but is illegal in the United States.

[French ibogaïne, from New Latin (Tabernanthē) iboga, species name of shrub in whose root it is found, probably ultimately from Ghetsogho (Bantu language of Gabon) ibogha; akin to boghaga, to cure.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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