philter
Americannoun
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a potion, charm, or drug supposed to cause the person taking it to fall in love, usually with some specific person.
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a magic potion for any purpose.
verb (used with object)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of philter
First recorded in 1580–90; from French philtre, from Latin philtrum; see philtrum
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Red Hugh fell afoul of a British agent who accomplished with a philter what could not be done by force.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Sincere love is the only philter that can effect prodigies," Anna Bell sighed as she answered.
From The Pocket Bible or Christian the Printer A Tale of the Sixteenth Century by Sue, Eug?ne
Thy look containeth both the dawn and sunset stars, Thy perfumes, as upon a sultry night exhale, Thy kiss a philter, and thy mouth a Grecian vase, That renders heroes cowardly and infants hale.
From The Flowers of Evil by Baudelaire, Charles
This valuable philter was not to be sent to the party till the next day.
From Aphrodisiacs and Anti-aphrodisiacs: Three Essays on the Powers of Reproduction by Davenport, John
And guessing that the philter was poison, and fearing to awaken the Queen's suspicions, you feigned readiness to accept the mission of death?
From The Pocket Bible or Christian the Printer A Tale of the Sixteenth Century by Sue, Eug?ne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
