Etymology

anise

A1N1I1S1E1

Today it means: An umbelliferous plant (Pimpinella anisum) growing naturally in Egypt, and cultivated in Spain, Malta, etc., for its carminative and aromatic seeds, which are used as a spice. It has a licorice scent. Full definition →

Middle English anys ← Old French anis ← Latin anīsum
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The story

  1. Egyptianjnst
  2. Ancient Greekἄνῑσον (ánīson)
  3. Latinanīsum
  4. Old Frenchanis
  5. Middle Englishanys
  6. English todayanise

From Middle English anys, borrowed from Old French anis, from Latin anīsum, from Ancient Greek ἄνισον (ánison), from Egyptian jnst.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.