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nepenthe

noun
ne·​pen·​the | \ nÉ™-ˈpen(t)-thÄ“ How to pronounce nepenthe (audio) \

Definition of nepenthe

1 : a potion used by the ancients to induce forgetfulness of pain or sorrow
2 : something capable of causing oblivion of grief or suffering
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Other Words from nepenthe

nepenthean \ nÉ™-​ˈpen(t)-​thÄ“-​É™n How to pronounce nepenthean (audio) \ adjective

Did You Know?

Nepenthe and its ancestors have long been popular with poets. Homer used the Greek grandparent of "nepenthe" in a way many believe is a reference to opium. The term was a tonic to Edmund Spenser, who wrote, "In her other hand a cup she hild, The which was this Nepenthe to the brim upfild." Edgar Allan Poe sought to "Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore." The term is an alteration of the Latin nepenthes, which is itself descended from the Greek prefix n -, meaning "not," plus penthos, meaning "grief" or "sorrow." English writers have been plying the word nepenthe since the 16th century.

First Known Use of nepenthe

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for nepenthe

borrowed from Latin nēpenthes, borrowed from Greek nēpenthés, neuter (modifying phármakon "drug") of nēpenthḗs "removing grief," from nē-, privative prefix (probably going back to Indo-European *n-, privative prefix, and a sequence of laryngeal and consonant) + -penthēs, adjective derivative of pénthos "sorrow, grief" — more at un- entry 1, pathos

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More from Merriam-Webster on nepenthe

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nepenthe

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