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nepenthean

 - 3 dictionary results

ne⋅pen⋅the

  [ni-pen-thee]
Use nepenthean in a Sentence
–noun
1. a drug or drink, or the plant yielding it, mentioned by ancient writers as having the power to bring forgetfulness of sorrow or trouble.
2. anything inducing a pleasurable sensation of forgetfulness, esp. of sorrow or trouble.
Origin:
1590–1600; < L nēpenthes < Gk nēpenthés herb for soothing, n. use of neut. of nēpenths sorrowless, equiv. to nē- not + pénth(os) sorrow + -ēs adj. suffix

Related forms:
ne⋅pen⋅the⋅an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To nepenthean
ne·pen·the   (nĭ-pěn'thē)   
n.  

  1. A drug mentioned in the Odyssey as a remedy for grief.

  2. Something that induces forgetfulness of sorrow or eases pain.


[Alteration of Latin nēpenthes, from Greek nēpenthes (pharmakon), grief-banishing (drug), nepenthe, neuter of nēpenthēs : nē-, not; see ne in Indo-European roots + penthos, grief; see kwent(h)- in Indo-European roots.]
ne·pen'the·an (-thē-ən) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

nepenthe 
1580, nepenthes, from Gk., from ne- "no, not" (see un-) + penthos "grief" (related to pathos). A drug of Egypt mentioned in the "Odyssey" as capable of banishing grief or trouble from the mind. The -s is a proper part of the word, but was likely mistaken in Eng. as a plural affix and dropped.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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