nepenthes
A drug mentioned in Homer's Odyssey as bringing relief from anxiety or griefA drug mentioned in Homer's Odyssey (c. 8th century B.C.E.) as bringing relief from anxiety or grief; hence, any drug or substance seen as bringing welcome forgetfulness or relief.
» The cheapest of nepenthes are often the most corrosive.
Meaning
2 senses(uncountable)A drug mentioned in Homer's Odyssey (c. 8th century B.C.E.) as bringing relief from anxiety or grief; hence, any drug or substance seen as bringing welcome forgetfulness or relief.
(uncountable)A Southeast Asian carnivorous plant of the genus Nepenthes; a monkey cup or tropical pitcher plant.
a genus of pitcher plants commonly known as tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups (Nepenthes)
Examples
1 sentencesThe cheapest of nepenthes are often the most corrosive.
Origin
Borrowed from Latin nēpenthes (“a drug bringing relief from grief”), from Ancient Greek νηBorrowed from Latin nēpenthes (“a drug bringing relief from grief”), from Ancient Greek νηπενθές (nēpenthés), neuter of νηπενθής (nēpenthḗs, “sorrow-banishing”), from νη- (nē-, “not”) + πένθος (pénthos, “grief”) (from πάσχειν (páskhein), present active infinitive of πάσχω (páskhō, “to be ill or injured in a certain way; to suffer”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷendʰ- (“to endure, to suffer”)). Compare French népenthès (“a plant from which a drug supposedly bringing relief from grief may be obtained; such a drug”).
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Synonyms
2 synonyms- a genus of pitcher plants commonly known as tropical pitcher plants or monkey cups (Nepenthes):genus Nepenthes
Word family
3 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable