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Webster 1913 Edition
Nepenthe
Ne-pen′the
,Noun.
[Fr. Gr. [GREEK] removing all sorrow; hence, an epithet of an Egyptian drug which lulled sorrow for the day; [GREEK] not + [GREEK] sorrow, grief.]
A drug used by the ancients to give relief from pain and sorrow; – by some supposed to have been opium or hasheesh. Hence, anything soothing and comforting.
Lulled with the sweet
nepenthe
of a court. Pope.
Quaff, O quaff this kind
nepenthe
. Poe.
Webster 1828 Edition
Nepenthe
NEPENTHE
,Noun.
Definition 2024
nepenthe
nepenthe
English
Noun
nepenthe (plural nepenthes)
- (archaic) A drug that relieves one of emotional pain, grief or sorrow; nepenthes. [from 16th c.]
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.3:
- And in her other hand a cup she hild, / The which was with Nepenthe to the brim upfild.
- 1845, Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven:
- "Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee — by these angels he hath sent thee / Respite — respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore. Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, IV.3: