hypericum
UK[haɪˈpɛrɪkəm]US[haɪˈpɛrɪkəm]
n
A genus of flowering plants, commonly known as St. John's wort, typically having yellow flowers with numerous stamens.
Morpheme Breakdown
hyper
icum
hyper
above
icum
pertaining to
Etymology
The word 'hypericum' is a direct borrowing from Latin, which itself originated from the Ancient Greek 'hyperikon'. The Greek term is traditionally thought to be a compound of 'hyper' (above, over) and 'ereike' (heath). A folk etymology suggests it was believed the plant had power over spirits or could ward off evil from "above." The literal sense of "pertaining to what is above the heath" evolved through botanical Latin to become the fixed genus name for plants characterized by their often elevated habitats and distinctive flowers.
Analysis
Structure: hyper (above) + icum (pertaining to)
- hyper: Greek origin, meaning "over, above, beyond." In this word, it functions as a prefix.
- icum: Latin origin, a neuter adjectival suffix (-icum) meaning "pertaining to." In this word, it forms a noun.
Examples
Hypericum perforatum is the most well-known species for its use in herbal medicine.
The bright yellow flowers of the hypericum added a splash of color to the garden.
Some studies have investigated the efficacy of hypericum extracts for treating mild depression.