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nepenthe

Mythology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A mythical potion or drug of forgetfulness mentioned in classic literature and Poe's "The Raven" to banish sorrow and grief.

Detailed Definition
In classical mythology, nepenthe is a potion that banishes grief or painful memory. Poe uses it figuratively for the comfort the speaker wants from the angels, making the word both exotic and learned.
Example
Example in poetry:
Poe’s “The Raven” asks for “Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore”; In Greek tradition, nepenthe is a drug or drink that banishes sorrow and forgetfulness; “No nepenthe could quiet the names the sea returned” uses the mythic word for failed consolation; Keats’s “Ode to a Nightingale” longs to “fade far away,” a related poetic wish to escape painful consciousness
Additional Notes
"Nepenthe" in the quoted line is a classical mythological term for a forgetfulness potion, which is unfamiliar to many readers.; Found in the poem, The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
Also Known As
forgetfulness oblivion relief solace
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