libation
lye-BAY-shun
/laɪˈbeɪ.ʃən/
A drink poured out as an offering to a deity or spirit; humorously, an alcoholic drink.
Historically a sacred offering of wine or oil poured onto earth or an altar; modern usage is often lighthearted.
The story behind the word. From Latin libatio, from libare ('to pour out as an offering'). In ancient Greece and Rome, no meal or formal feast began without pouring a portion of unmixed wine onto the ground for the household gods or ancestors.
Word relationships
- drink offering: Drink offering is the direct descriptive translation; libation is the formal literary term.
- oblation: Oblation includes any offering presented to God; libation is strictly a liquid offering.
Commonly confused with
- lustration: Lustration is a ritual purification washing, whereas libation is a drink poured out as an offering.
Word family
- libate (verb): To pour out a drink offering (archaic).
Collocations
- pour a libation
- libations to the gods
- festive libations
- pour out libations
Idioms & expressions
- pour one out (a modern slang adaptation derived from ancient libations to honor deceased friends)
Example sentences
- "They poured out libations of wine to the gods of the underworld before embarking on their journey." Classical Literature
- "After a long week at work, the team gathered at the local pub to enjoy a few libations." Modern Informal
Memory hook
LIQUID + LIBATION. Pouring out liquid for the gods. A liquid offering poured for the spirits.
When not to use
Do not use in formal medical or legal settings to describe beverages.
Fun facts
- The modern hip-hop tradition of 'pouring out a little liquor' for fallen friends directly preserves a 3,000-year-old Greek libation practice.
Related words
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