nepenthean

Variant of nepenthe

nepenthe definition

ne·pen·the (nē pen′t̸hē, ni-)

noun

  1. a drug supposed by the ancient Greeks to cause forgetfulness of sorrow
  2. anything causing such forgetfulness

Etymology: L nepenthes < Gr nepenthēs, removing sorrow < ne-, not (see no) + penthos, sorrow, grief < IE base *kwenth-, to suffer, bear > OIr cessaim, (I) suffer

Also nepenthes ne·pen′·thes′ (-t̸hēz′)

Related Forms:

  • nepenthean ne·pen′·thean (-t̸hē ən) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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