definitions

libation

[ lahy-bey-shuh n ]
/ laɪˈbeɪ ʃən /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR libation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a pouring out of wine or other liquid in honor of a deity.
the liquid poured out.
Often Facetious.
  1. an intoxicating beverage, as wine, especially when drunk in ceremonial or celebrative situations.
  2. an act or instance of drinking such a beverage.

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RELATED WORDS

sacrifice, drink, gift, offering

Nearby words

lias, liatris, lib, lib dem, lib., libation, libation-bearers, the, libau, libava, libber, libby

Origin of libation

1350–1400; Middle English libacio(u)n < Latin lībātiōn- (stem of lībātiō) a drink offering, equivalent to lībāt(us) (past participle of lībāre to pour; cognate with Greek leíbein) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms

li·ba·tion·al, li·ba·tion·ar·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for libation

British Dictionary definitions for libation

libation

/ (laɪˈbeɪʃən) /

noun

  1. the pouring out of wine, etc, in honour of a deity
  2. the liquid so poured out
usually facetious an alcoholic drink

Derived Forms

libational or libationary, adjective

Word Origin for libation

C14: from Latin lībātiō, from lībāre to pour an offering of drink
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012