Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 12:20 -
Books, dictionaries and texts,
Latin Language,
Latin TranslationPosted by Administrator
It appears that 'magorium' (magorium sambac, sumbac, zambuc) is something better known as Arabian Jasmine. Muhammad Sharif Khan describes this flower as "sweet and cool, and of a pleasant smell; raises the spirits; removes bile; improves weakness of sight, affections of the mouth, and ulcers" (Taleef shereef or Indian materia medica, Oxford 1833, p. 161).
Magorium, of course, is a latinized form of 'Mogra', which is a name of a town in India. However, it is probably rather pointless to speculate on the significance of Mr. Magorium's name, since it is probably supposed to be reminiscent of 'magus'. Just another somewhat Potterian Latin-sounding concoction.