libation


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li·ba·tion

 (lī-bā′shən)
n.
1.
a. The pouring of a liquid offering as a religious ritual.
b. The liquid so poured.
2. Informal
a. A beverage, especially an intoxicating beverage.
b. The act of drinking an intoxicating beverage.

[Middle English libacioun, from Latin lībātiō, lībātiōn-, from lībātus, past participle of lībāre, to pour out as an offering.]

li·ba′tion·ar′y (-shə-nĕr′ē) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

libation

(laɪˈbeɪʃən)
n
1.
a. the pouring out of wine, etc, in honour of a deity
b. the liquid so poured out
2. usually facetious an alcoholic drink
[C14: from Latin lībātiō, from lībāre to pour an offering of drink]
liˈbational, liˈbationary adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

li•ba•tion

(laɪˈbeɪ ʃən)

n.
1. a pouring out of wine or other liquid in honor of a deity.
2. the liquid poured out.
3. Often Facetious.
a. an intoxicating beverage, as wine.
b. an act or instance of drinking such a beverage.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lībātiō=lībā(re) to pour (c. Greek leíbein) + -tiō -tion]
li•ba′tion•al, li•ba′tion•ar′y, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

libation

Jocular. an alcoholic beverage.
See also: Alcohol
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.libation - (facetious) a serving of an alcoholic beverage
humor, wit, witticism, wittiness, humour - a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
drink - a single serving of a beverage; "I asked for a hot drink"; "likes a drink before dinner"
2.libation - a serving (of wine) poured out in honor of a deity
helping, serving, portion - an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal; "the helpings were all small"; "his portion was larger than hers"; "there's enough for two servings each"
3.libation - the act of pouring a liquid offering (especially wine) as a religious ceremony
religious ceremony, religious ritual - a ceremony having religious meaning
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
plengoffer

libation

[laɪˈbeɪʃən] Nlibación f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

libation

[laɪˈbeɪʃən] (literary) nlibation f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

libation

n
(= offering)Trankopfer nt
(inf: = drink) we had a few small libationswir hatten ein paar getrunken (inf)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in classic literature ?
In fresh myrtle my blade I'll entwine, Like Harmodius, the gallant and good, When he made at the tutelar shrine A libation of Tyranny's blood.
There now ensued between the squire and the parson a most excellent political discourse, framed out of newspapers and political pamphlets; in which they made a libation of four bottles of wine to the good of their country: and then, the squire being fast asleep, the parson lighted his pipe, mounted his horse, and rode home.
CHORUS Make a libation first of water fetched With undefiled hands from living spring.
Peace to his red-nosed ghost, and a libation to his memory!
On tiptoe it was destined to remain, however, until afternoon; when Squeers, having refreshed himself with his dinner, and further strengthened himself by an extra libation or so, made his appearance (accompanied by his amiable partner) with a countenance of portentous import, and a fearful instrument of flagellation, strong, supple, wax-ended, and new,--in short, purchased that morning, expressly for the occasion.
This act Epicurus neither blamed nor praised; he was content to say as he poured a libation to Bacchus, 'As for death, there is nothing in death to move our laughter or our tears.'
It was very soon discovered that whoever cast an indignity on Topsy was sure to meet with some inconvenient accident shortly after;--either a pair of ear-rings or some cherished trinket would be missing, or an article of dress would be suddenly found utterly ruined, or the person would stumble accidently into a pail of hot water, or a libation of dirty slop would unaccountably deluge them from above when in full gala dress;-and on all these occasions, when investigation was made, there was nobody found to stand sponsor for the indignity.
Commander Bennet and his officers were present at the entertainment, which was signalized by copious libations and numerous toasts.
The gods, too, may he turned from their purpose; and men pray to them and avert their wrath by sacrifices and soothing entreaties, and by libations and the odour of fat, when they have sinned and transgressed.
Nor was this the only start Mr Swiveller had of the market-gardener, for determining to show the family what quality of man they trifled with, and influenced perhaps by his late libations, he performed such feats of agility and such spins and twirls as filled the company with astonishment, and in particular caused a very long gentleman who was dancing with a very short scholar, to stand quite transfixed by wonder and admiration.
And yet good hope is mine that I shall find A welcome from my sire, a welcome too, From thee, my mother, and my brother dear; From with these hands, I laved and decked your limbs In death, and poured libations on your grave.
But do you turn your foolish heart altogether away from these things, and, as far as you are able, sacrifice to the deathless gods purely and cleanly, and burn rich meats also, and at other times propitiate them with libations and incense, both when you go to bed and when the holy light has come back, that they may be gracious to you in heart and spirit, and so you may buy another's holding and not another yours.