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deadly nightshade
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Nightshade \Night"shade`\, n. [AS. nichtscadu.] (Bot.) A common name of many species of the genus Solanum, given esp. to the Solanum nigrum, or black nightshade, a low, branching weed with small white flowers and black berries reputed to be poisonous. [1913 Webster] Deadly nightshade. Same as Belladonna (a) . Enchanter's nightshade. See under Enchanter. Stinking nightshade. See Henbane. Three-leaved nightshade. See Trillium. [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
deadly \dead"ly\, a.
1. Capable of causing death; mortal; fatal; destructive;
certain or likely to cause death; as, a deadly blow or
wound.
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2. Aiming or willing to destroy; implacable; desperately
hostile; flagitious; as, deadly enemies.
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Thy assailant is quick, skillful, and deadly.
--Shak.
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3. Subject to death; mortal. [Obs.]
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The image of a deadly man. --Wyclif (Rom.
i. 23).
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Deadly nightshade (Bot.), a poisonous plant; belladonna.
See under Nightshade.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Belladonna \Bel`la*don"na\, n. [It., literally fine lady; bella beautiful + donna lady.] (Bot.) (a) An herbaceous European plant (Atropa belladonna) with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries. The whole plant and its fruit are very poisonous, and the root and leaves are used as powerful medicinal agents. Its properties are largely due to the alkaloid atropine which it contains. Called also deadly nightshade. (b) A species of Amaryllis (Amaryllis belladonna); the belladonna lily. [1913 Webster]
