Word
absinthe
Phoneticsab·sinthe
US/ˈæbsɪnθ/
UK/ˈæbsɪnθ/
Definitions
02the plant
n. the bitter herb used to make the drink, also called wormwood.
n. the plant Artemisia absinthium, or the bitter essence extracted from it. Often used in a botanical or historical context.
“The garden contained several medicinal herbs, including absinthe and mint.”
“The primary bitter component of the spirit is derived from the leaves and flowers of the absinthe plant, which contains the compound thujone.”
Technical
Synonyms
03a colour
n. a light, yellowish-green colour.
n. a moderate to pale yellowish-green hue resembling the appearance of the liquor.
“She chose an absinthe green silk for the curtains in the drawing room.”
“The walls were painted a pale shade of absinthe, giving the room a cool, slightly antique atmosphere.”
Literary
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Classical authorities were regularly cited as recommending the consumption of certain foods before a drinking session, with almonds, cabbage, baked quinces, wormwood (absinthe) and even the lungs of a goat being thought beneficial.” Etymology
* (wormwood; figuratively bitterness, sorrow): From Middle English absinthe. * (liquor): From Modern French absinthe. Both from Middle French absinthe, from Latin absinthium, from Ancient Greek ἀψίνθιον (apsínthion, “wormwood”). Doublet of absinthium.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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englishreference.com/q/absinthe