absinthe English · revision 1484

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1612}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæb.sɪnθ/, /ˈæb.sænθ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|absinthe|t=wormwood; essence of wormwood]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la|absinthium|t=wormwood]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[grc|ἀψίνθιον|tr=apsínthion|t=wormwood]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) a word of foreign origin,^(Hoad 1986) perhaps from Persian: compare [[fa|اسپند|tr=aspand]].^(Etymonline)^(Partridge 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The plant wormwood (1612 in the OED, Merriam-Webster and Weekley; before 1500 in Barnhart; c. 1500 in Etymonline).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Weekley 1921)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The wormwood plant was a figure of bitter sorrow,^(Etymonline) and Wiktionary records the senses “wormwood” and “bitterness” from Middle English.^(Wiktionary) The liqueur, distilled from wine mixed with wormwood, is first recorded in 1842,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and Weekley says Thackeray is the first to mention it.^(Weekley 1921) The French name is short for ''extrait d'absinthe'', essence of wormwood.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster Unabridged notes that it began as a tonic in Switzerland at the end of the 18th century and became associated with the French army in Algeria.^(MWU 2024) Because of its toxicity its production was later banned in many countries.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) In the United States the name was also given to the sagebrush (1843).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1500 – wormwood (Etymonline).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1612 – first quotation in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1842 – the liqueur.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1843 – the sagebrush (US).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1865 – essence of wormwood.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A strong, green, bitter [[liqueur]] flavoured with [[wormwood]], [[anise]] and other herbs, with a high alcohol content.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The plant wormwood, ''Artemisia absinthium''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A yellowish-green colour.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[absinthial]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wormwood]]

+ * [[vermouth]]

+ * [[pastis]]

+ * [[anise]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}