Definition of "Wormwood"

Wormwood

proper noun
countable and uncountable, plural Wormwoods
1. (Christianity) A star or angel that appears in the Book of Revelation, turning waters bitter and poisonous.
  Quotations
  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Revelation 8:10–11
2. A surname.
  Quotations
  Having got the address from the school records, Miss Honey set out to walk from her own home to the Wormwoods’ house shortly after nine.
  2013, Roald Dahl, Matilda, London: Puffin, page 86