anise

Meaning

Noun

• 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.
• fennel, Foeniculum vulgare.

Origin

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