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ip·e·cac (ĭpĭ-kăk′) also ip·e·cac·u·an·ha (ĭp′ĭ-kăk′y-ănə)
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n.
1.
a. A low-growing tropical American shrub (Psychotria ipecacuanha syn. Cephaelis ipecacuanha) having roots and rhizomes that yield emetine.
b. The dried roots and rhizomes of this shrub.
2. A medicinal preparation made from the dried roots and rhizomes of this shrub that is used to induce vomiting, particularly in cases of poisoning and drug overdose.
[Short for Portuguese ipecacuanha, from Tupí ipekaaguéne : ipeh, low + kaâ, leaves + guéne, vomit.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 

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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