wortcunning

alternative wort-cunning · alternative wort cunning

1. archaicuncountableKnowledge of the medicinal uses of plants and herbs.

   (see title)

   1864, Thomas Oswald Cockayne, Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England

   5 more examples

   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

   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