love-philter
Definitions
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
- n. (noun) A drink credited with magical power, which can make the one who takes it love the one who gave it; a love potion.
Examples
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Arkwright thought her eyes wonderful; the sweet, powerful yet delicate odor of the lilac sachet powder with which her every garment was saturated set upon his senses like a love-philter.
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The fraulein came on deck as soon as we all went down with sea-sickness, and bewitched him with her eyes. It must have been her eyes; they are yellow -- witch's eyes. Or maybe that cheap smell about her is a love-philter!
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'Behold,' the charlatan was shouting, 'the marvellous Egyptian love-philter distilled from the pearl that the great Emperor Antony dropped into Queen Cleopatra's cup.'
Note
'Philter' on its own means 'love potion,' thus 'love-philter' is literally 'love love potion.' 'Philter' comes from the Greek 'philein,' to love. 'Love' comes from the Old English 'lufu,' love, affection, friendliness.
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