libation
libation Lexical Profile
libation Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A ritual pouring of a liquid, such as wine, oil, or water, on the ground or an altar as a sacrifice to a deity or in honor of the dead, or the liquid so poured.
"The ancient priests poured a libation of dark wine onto the stone altar before beginning the ceremony."
An alcoholic beverage or drink (often used humorously).
"After the long conference, the attendees gathered at the hotel lounge to enjoy a few evening libations."
Word Nuance & Usage
In modern everyday usage, 'libation' is almost exclusively used in a humorous or mildly pretentious way to refer to an alcoholic drink, whereas its literal religious sense is restricted to historical or anthropological contexts.
• Rhymes for libation
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Middle French from Latin 'libatio', a noun of action from 'libare' ('to pour out as a drink offering, taste'), which shares a Proto-Indo-European root with Ancient Greek 'leibein' ('to pour').