Etymology

Noun

1. A drug described in Homer's Odyssey that relieves one of emotional pain, grief or sorrow.
2. Anything which effects the welcome forgetfulness of such sorrow.

Quotations

• 1845, Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven (published in the New York Evening Mirror)

  "Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee — by these angels he hath sent thee

  Respite — respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore.

  Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"