myristicadj.

Etymology: Originally < Italian myristico (1499 in the passage translated in quot. 1592 at sense 1) < post-classical Latin myristicus fragrant (a1250 in a British source; 14th cent. in a British source in nux myristica nutmeg; adopted by Linnaeus in form myristica as the genus name of the nutmeg tree) < Byzantine Greek μυριστικός fragrant (6th cent. a.d. in κάρυον μυριστικόν , lit. ‘fragrant nut’) < ancient Greek μυρίζειν to anoint, in Hellenistic Greek also (in passive) to be fragrant with ( < μύρον unguent, perfume (see myronic adj.) + -ίζειν -ize suffix) + -ιστικός -istic suffix. In sense 2 reborrowed < post-classical Latin myristicus. Compare Middle French myristicque fragrant, for use as an unguent (c1590 in an isolated borrowing), French myristique (1868 in Littré in sense 2).