a·pé·ri·tif (ä-pěr'ĭ-tēf') n. An alcoholic drink taken as an appetizer before a meal.
[French, from Old French aperitif, purgative, from Medieval Latin aperitīvus, from Late Latin apertīvus, from Latin apertus, past participle of aperīre, to open; see wer-4 in Indo-European roots.]
1894, "alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite," from Fr., lit. "opening," from L. aperitivus, from aperire "to open" (see overt).