absinthe

Or ab·sinth

[ab-sinth]

noun

1. a green, aromatic liqueur that is 68 percent alcohol, is made with wormwood and other herbs, and has a bitter, licorice flavor.

2. wormwood.

absinthe

/ ˈæbsɪnθ /

noun

1. a potent green alcoholic drink, technically a gin, originally having high wormwood content

2. another name for wormwood

Other Word Forms

• absinthial adjective
• absinthian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of absinthe¹

1605–15; < French < Latin absinthium wormwood < Greek apsínthion

Word History and Origins

Origin of absinthe¹

C15: via French and Latin from Greek apsinthion wormwood

Example Sentences

“The absinthe made everything seem better,” Jake says as the last night of the party begins in The Sun Also Rises.

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O’Connor’s ice cream brand, dubbed the Icecreamists, made a name for itself by selling extreme flavors, including absinthe and horseradish.

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There was the Sazerac, of course, in which the ingredients are stirred with ice to temper the burn of the high-proof rye and absinthe while melding the flavors.

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I wasn't ready for how much I loved absinthe.

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If you've ever ordered a Sazerac, you might've noticed your bartender pour a quarter shot of absinthe into the glass, swish it around, and then dump the liquid into the sink.

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