nepenthe

English

Etymology

Back-formation from nepenthes.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /nɪˈpɛn.θɪ/

Noun

nepenthe (plural nepenthes)

1. (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!"