Adjacent Words

Libation definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

LIBA'TION, n. [L. libatio, from libo, to pour out, to taste.]
1. The act of pouring a liquor, usually wine, either on the ground, or on a victim in sacrifice, in honor of some deity. The Hebrews, Greeks and Romans practiced libation. This was a solemn act and accompanied with prayer.
2. The wine or other liquor poured out in honor of a deity.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (facetious) a serving of an alcoholic beverage
2: a serving (of wine) poured out in honor of a deity
3: the act of pouring a liquid offering (especially wine) as a religious ceremony

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English libacioun, from Latin libation-, libatio, from libare to pour as an offering; akin to Greek leibein to pour Date: 14th century 1. a. an act of pouring a liquid as a sacrifice (as to a deity) b. a liquid (as wine) used in a libation 2. a. an act or instance of drinking often ceremoniously b. beverage; especially a drink containing alcohol • libationary adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a the pouring out of a drink-offering to a god. b such a drink-offering. 2 joc. a potation. Etymology: ME f. L libatio f. libare pour as offering

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Libation Li*ba"tion (l[-i]*b[=a]"sh[u^]n), n. [L. libatio, fr. libare to take a little from anything, to taste, to pour out as an offering: cf. F. libation.] The act of pouring a liquid or liquor, usually wine, either on the ground or on a victim in sacrifice, in honor of some deity; also, the wine or liquid thus poured out. --Dryden. A heathen sacrifice or libation to the earth. --Bacon.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(libations) In ancient Greece and Rome, a libation was an alcoholic drink that was offered to the gods. (LITERARY) N-COUNT

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

li-ba'-shun.

See SACRIFICE.

Moby Thesaurus

beverage, bumper, burnt offering, collection, draft, dram, drench, drink, drink offering, drop, ex voto offering, gargle, gulp, guzzle, heave offering, hecatomb, holocaust, human sacrifice, immolation, incense, infanticide, jigger, jolt, lap, mactation, nip, oblation, offering, offertory, peace offering, peg, piacular offering, portion, potation, potion, pull, quaff, round, round of drinks, sacramental offering, sacrifice, scapegoat, self-immolation, self-sacrifice, shot, sip, slurp, snifter, snort, spot, suck, sup, suttee, sutteeism, swig, swill, thank offering, tot, votive offering, wet, whole offering