nepenthe

noun

ne·​pen·​the nə-ˈpen(t)-thē 

1

: a potion used by the ancients to induce forgetfulness of pain or sorrow

2

: something capable of causing oblivion of grief or suffering

nepenthean

nə-ˈpen(t)-thē-ən 

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.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

nepenthe

noun

ne·​pen·​the nə-ˈpen(t)-thē 

: a potion used by the ancient peoples to dull pain and sorrow