philopena
Americannoun
-
a custom, presumably of German origin, in which two persons share the kernels of a nut and determine that one shall receive a forfeit from the other at a later time upon the saying of a certain word or the performance of a certain action.
-
the thing shared.
-
the forfeit paid.
Etymology
Origin of philopena
1830–40, earlier philippina < Dutch philippine < German Vielliebchen, diminutive of viellieb very dear; in earlier form viellieb was taken as proper name Philippe Philip and -chen was made into feminine suffix -ina, giving a woman's name; in later form the word was Anglicized along pseudo-classical lines ( cf. philo-, penal)
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.
On her left hand she wore the wedding circlet, with her engagement-ring and the philopena guard over it.
From Horace Chase by Constance Fenimore Woolson
He was lingering a moment with his neighbor, Baby Whittaker, while they ate a philopena, smiling and talking for all the world as if— But, after all, what did it matter?
From The Open Question a tale of two temperaments by Elizabeth Robins
I wish to thank him for my philopena, which came late last night.
From Horace Chase by Constance Fenimore Woolson
Ruth paid no heed to this; put on her ring again, using the philopena circlet as a guard; then she said, "Petie Trone, Esq., there will be just time before dinner for your Saturday scrubbing."
From Horace Chase by Constance Fenimore Woolson
"I owe him a philopena, and that would have been a splendid way to pay it."
From Tabitha at Ivy Hall by Alfred Russell
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.
