philter

American  

[fil-ter] / ˈfɪl tər /

especially British, philtre

noun

1. a potion, charm, or drug supposed to cause the person taking it to fall in love, usually with some specific person.

2. a magic potion for any purpose.

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verb (used with object)

philtered, philtering

1. to enchant or bewitch with a philter.

Other Word Forms

• philterer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of philter

First recorded in 1580–90; from French philtre, from Latin philtrum; see philtrum

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

philter philtered

Red Hugh fell afoul of a British agent who accomplished with a philter what could not be done by force.

From Time Magazine Archive

Well, madam, you shall be supplied with a philter that never fails, on the payment ol twenty-one shillings.

From The Evil Eye; Or, The Black Spector The Works of William Carleton, Volume One by Carleton, William

She often finds in religion a curious philter, both a sedative and a stimulant.

From The Intelligence of Woman by George, Walter Lionel

The name of Phil is a philter to me.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 18, No. 110, December, 1866 A Magazine of Literature, Science, Art, and Politics by Various

A love-potion," replied Luke Hatton, calmly, "I am about to prepare a philter for her, and will answer for its effect.

From The Star-Chamber, Volume 2 An Historical Romance by Ainsworth, William Harrison

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 Prothero, Rowland E. (Rowland Edmund), Baron Ernle

Related Words

• draught
• elixir