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Decoct boils down to a simple Latin origin: the word decoquere, from de-, meaning "down" or "away," and coquere, meaning "to cook" or "to ripen." Decoct itself is somewhat rare. Its related noun decoction, which refers to either an extract obtained by decocting or the act or process of decocting, is slightly more common but still much less recognizable than some other members of the coquere family, among gastronomical words like biscuit, biscotti, cook, and kitchen. Other coquere descendants include concoct ("to prepare by combining raw materials" or "to devise or fabricate"), concoction ("something concocted"), and precocious ("exceptionally early in development or occurrence" or "exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age").
Examples of decoct in a Sentence
Andre Meunier, oregonlive, 31 Oct. 2019
In herbal medicine, roots and harder plant material like seeds and bark are often decocted (cooked over low heat for a length of time) as a way of extracting their healing qualities.
—Alaina Sullivan, Bon Appetit, 24 Jan. 2017
In herbal medicine, roots and harder plant material like seeds and bark are often decocted (cooked over low heat for a length of time) as a way of extracting their healing qualities.
—Alaina Sullivan, Bon Appetit, 24 Jan. 2017
Dictionary Entries Near decoct
Cite this Entry
“Decoct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decoct. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
decoct
transitive verb
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