nepenth

From French népenthe, népenthès (“nepenthes”), népente (“a plant from which a drug supposedly bringing relief from grief may be obtained”), or Latin nēpenthes: see further at nepenthes. Compare Italian nepente.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /nɪˈpɛnθ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /nəˈpɛnθ/
• Hyphenation: ne‧penth

nepenth (plural nepenths)

1. (obsolete, rare) Alternative form of nepenthes.
   • 1867, “NEPENTHA′CEÆ”, in Charles Knight, editor, Natural History or Second Division of “The English Cyclopædia”, volume III, London: Bradbury, Evans, & Co., 11, Bouverie St., Fleet St., E.C.; New York, N.Y.: Scribner, Welford, & Co., 654, Broadway, OCLC 61167125, column 1080:

     NEPENTHA′CEÆ, Nepenths, a natural order of Exogenous Plants inhabiting the damper and warmer parts of Asia, and having, in the place of leaves, large hollow bodies furnished with a lid, and containing water secreted from a peculiar glandular apparatus with which they are lined. […] [T]he adherent ovary of Birthworts, their highly developed calyx, axile placentation, and hermaphrodite flowers, are serious difficulties in the way of a close contact between them and Nepenths, unless the peculiar structure of the wood, the consideration of which I for the present abandon, should lead to the final establishment of the class of Homogens, in which case Nepenths and Birthworts will be brought into contact or at least a near neighbourhood.

   • 1876, John Davies, “[Tobacco.]”, in Alexander B[alloch] Grosart, editor, The Complete Poems of Sir John Davies. Edited, with Memorial-Introduction and Notes, by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes (Early English Poets), volume II, London: Chatto and Windus, Piccadilly, OCLC 752538909, page 226:

     Homer of Moly and Nepenthe singes: / Moly, the gods most soveraigne hearbe divine. / Nepenth Hellen's drink, which gladnes brings,— / Hart's greife repells, and doth ye witts refine.

   • 2013, Ogden W[illis] Rogers, “The Tipping Point (or, ‘There She Goes Again …’)”, in Beginnings, Middles, & Ends: Sideways Stories on the Art & Soul of Social Work, Harrisburg, Pa.: White Hat Communications, →ISBN, page 229:

     The nepenth of nostalgia is replaced by an amphetamine of anticipation.

• penneth