1
Stage 1 of 4
al-sena
Arabic · medieval
"laxative shrub"
named the shrub whose dried leaflets were used medicinally; "the Arabians were the first that found it out"
2
Stage 2 of 4
sene
French · c. 1400
"senna"
entered European medical vocabulary through Arabic pharmacology
3
Stage 3 of 4
senna
Modern Latin · 1540s
"medicinal shrub"
standardized in European medical and botanical texts
4
Stage 4 of 4
senna
English · 1540s
"laxative plant and drug"
entered English as both the plant name and the name of its laxative preparation
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