nepenthe
Say it: nih-PEN-thee /nɪˈpɛnθi/ · noun
What “nepenthe” means
Something that helps you forget sadness or pain.
More precisely: Anything that makes you forget sorrow or pain.
Example: “For her, a long swim in the sea was nepenthe after a brutal week.”
When to use it
In literary writing, for an experience or comfort that lets someone forget their sorrows.
Similar words
balm, solace, anodyne
Where it comes from
Greek nēpenthes 'banishing grief', a drug mentioned in Homer's Odyssey.
Quick check
Playing the piano lets you forget your sadness for a while. What might you poetically call that comfort?
nepenthe or nostalgia?
Show the answer
nepenthe
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