absinthe

noun ahb-SANT Rare

Origin: Latin absinthium, from Greek apsinthion ('wormwood')

Also means

wormwood

Usage Note

Absinthe refers both to the highly alcoholic green spirit (la fée verte — 'the green fairy') beloved by 19th-century Parisian artists, and to the plant Artemisia absinthium (wormwood) from which it is distilled. Absinthe was banned in France from 1915 to 2011 due to its thujone content. It is traditionally served with a sugar cube and cold water poured over it.

Examples

"Elle commandait toujours une absinthe au café du soir."

Natural Translation

She always ordered an absinthe at the evening café.

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