Word of the Day

: June 10, 2014

ambrosia

noun am-BROH-zhee-uh

What It Means

1 a : the food of the Greek and Roman gods

b : the ointment or perfume of the gods

2 : something extremely pleasing to taste or smell

3 : a dessert made of oranges and shredded coconut

ambrosia in Context

The company drew criticism for advertising the children's medicine as if it were ambrosia.

"The pork loin was animal ambrosia nestled tenderly in great gravy. My taste buds treasure the memory…." - Tony Stein, The Virginian-Pilot, April 20, 2014

Did You Know?

"Ambrosia" literally means "immortality" in Greek; it is derived from the Greek word "ambrotos" ("immortal"), which combines the prefix "a-" (meaning "not") with "mbrotos" ("mortal"). In Greek and Roman mythology, only the immortals-gods and goddesses-could eat ambrosia. Those mythological gods and goddesses also drank "nectar," the original sense of which refers to the "drink of the gods." "Nectar" (in Greek, "nektar") may have implied immortality as well; "nektar" is believed to have carried the literal meaning "overcoming death." While the ambrosia of the gods implied immortality, we mere mortals use "ambrosia" in reference to things that just taste or smell especially delicious. Similarly, "nectar" can now simply mean "something delicious to drink."