a drug, or the plant providing it, that ancient writers referred to as a means of forgetting grief or trouble
2.
anything that produces sleep, forgetfulness, or pleasurable dreaminess
Derived forms
nepenthean (neˈpenthean)
adjective
Word origin
C16: via Latin from Greek nēpenthes sedative made from a herb, from nē- not + penthos grief
nepenthe in American English
(niˈpɛnθi; nɪˈpɛnθi)
noun
1.
a drug supposed by the ancient Greeks to cause forgetfulness of sorrow
2.
anything causing such forgetfulness
Also neˈpenˌthes (nɪˈpɛnˌθiz)
Derived forms
nepenthean (neˈpenthean) (nɪˈpɛnθiən)
adjective
Word origin
L nepenthes < Gr nepenthēs, removing sorrow < ne-, not (see no1) + penthos, sorrow, grief < IE base *kwenth-, to suffer, bear > OIr cessaim, (I) suffer