fée verte

French

Etymology

Literally, “green fairy”, from the color of the drink, as used by Paul Verlaine.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fe vɛʁt/

• Audio

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Noun

fée verte f (plural fées vertes)

1. (dated) green fairy, absinthe

   Synonym: absinthe

   • 1885, Max Waller, Lysiane de Lysias:

     Lorsque accroché à la Fée verte, l’homme a, pendant de longs mois dégusté ses poisons, quand l’absinthe bien-aimée a fait trembler ses phalanges, allumé dans ses yeux les flammes folles de l’hallucination et subtilisé ses sens, il peut, par une volonté violente, rejeter loin de lui la passion qui le tue.

     Once hooked to the Green fairy, after man has for many months enjoyed her poison, when the well-loved absinthe has made his fingers tremble, sparked up insane flames in his eyes and taken over his senses, he can, through severe self-restraint, drive away the passion that kills him.