apéritif
[ah-per-i-teef, uh-per-; French a-pey-ree-teef]
- a small drink of alcoholic liquor taken to stimulate the appetite before a meal.
- Also called apéritif wine. a wine served as an appetizer or cocktail.
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Origin of apéritif
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for aperitif
Historical Examples
The man will bring you an aperitif while I escape from this accursed frock coat.
Ewing\'s LadyHarry Leon Wilson
A French cafe was installed there, and two or three soldiers were taking their aperitif before dinner out in the air.
The Garden Of AllahRobert Hichens
apéritif
- an alcoholic drink, esp a wine, drunk before a meal to whet the appetite
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Word Origin
C19: from French, from Medieval Latin aperitīvus, from Latin aperīre to open
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for aperitif
n.
1894, "alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite," from French apéritif "laxative, laxative liqueur," literally "opening," from Latin aperitivus, from aperire "to open" (see overt). Cf. Middle English apertive (adj.), a medical word meaning "capable of opening or dilating" (pores, etc.), early 15c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper