lovage

UK: /ˈlʌvɪdʒ/ US: (luv′ij)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lov•age  (luv′ij), n. 

1. Plant Biology a European plant, Levisticum officinale, of the parsley family, having coarsely toothed compound leaves, cultivated in gardens.

• Medieval Latin levistica, for Late Latin levisticum, alteration of Latin ligusticum lovage, noun, nominal use of neuter of Ligusticus Ligurian
• Old English lufestice (by syncope)
• Latin apium)
• Anglo-French luvesche (by association with ache celery
• Middle English loveache 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lovage / ˈlʌvɪdʒ/ noun

1. a European umbelliferous plant, Levisticum officinale, with greenish-white flowers and aromatic fruits, which are used for flavouring food
2. Scotch lovage ⇒ a similar and related plant, Ligusticum scoticum, of N Europe

Etymology: 14th Century loveache, from Old French luvesche, from Late Latin levisticum, from Latin ligusticum, literally: Ligurian (plant)