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.
See Examples For:
Red Hugh fell afoul of a British agent who accomplished with a philter what could not be done by force.
From Time Magazine Archive
No sooner was Gunnar wedded than the power of the philter ceased to operate: he remembered all that had passed, and the oath he had sworn to the fair Brynhildr.
From The Mysteries of All Nations Rise and Progress of Superstition, Laws Against and Trials of Witches, Ancient and Modern Delusions Together With Strange Customs, Fables, and Tales by James Grant
"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 Eug?ne Sue
Persis went to the vast sideboard, and, while Crofts fussed about her, handing her the shaker, the ice, and bottle after bottle, she prepared the cup as if it were a mystic philter of love.
From What Will People Say? A novel by Rupert Hughes
To these lowly, solitary men, who knew nothing beyond their own fields and coppices and wastelands, its excitement came like a magic philter to change the monotony of their days.
From The Waters of Edera by Ouida
So shocked was Byron that he complained that the book was filled with "the philtered ideas of a jaded voluptuary."
From Time Magazine Archive
These descriptions ought to have been written by Tiberius at Caprea—they are forced—the philtered ideas of a jaded voluptuary.
From The Works of Lord Byron: Letters and Journals. Vol. 2 by Rowland Edmund Prothero, Baron Ernle
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