Absinthe

/ˈæb.sɪnθ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A highly alcoholic spirit made from the distillation of herbs, particularly wormwood, anise, and fennel, often associated with a green color and historically known for its alleged hallucinogenic properties.

He poured himself a glass of absinthe, admiring its rich green color.

A drink made with absinthe, often mixed with water and sugar, that forms a cloudy emulsion.

They enjoyed their absinthe ritual, carefully dripping water over the sugar cube.

Any of various similar herbal liqueurs.

The bar offered a selection of absinthes from different regions of Europe.

Etymology

Late Latin 'absinthium' from Greek 'apsinthion', referring to wormwood.

Common Phrases and Expressions

Green Fairy

A nickname for absinthe, referring to its color and mythical associations.

Absinthe drip

A method of preparing absinthe by dripping water over a sugar cube.

La Fée Verte

French for 'The Green Fairy', a term for absinthe.

Related Words

wormwood

A herb used in the production of absinthe, known for its bitter taste.

anise

A spice that is often used to flavor absinthe.

Slang Meanings

The Green Fairy

After a few shots of the Green Fairy, the night took a wild turn.

La Fée Verte

They toasted to La Fée Verte before diving into artistic discussions.