English
Etymology
Latin nÄ�penthes < Greek νηÏ�ενθήÏ� (nÄ�penthÄ�s, soothing sorrow): νη- (nÄ�, a negative prefix) + Ï�ÎνθοÏ� (penthos, grief, sorrow).
Noun
en-noun
#A drug described in Homer's Odyssey that relieves one of emotional pain, grief or sorrow.
#Anything which effects the welcome forgetfulness of such sorrow.
Quotations
1845, Edgar Allan Poe, wikisource:The Raven (Poe)|The Raven (published in the New York Evening Mirror)
:"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!"
vi:nepenthe
zh:nepenthe
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