[a. L. ambrosia, a. Gr. ἀμβροσία, fem. of ἀμβρόσι-ος ‘pertaining to the immortals’ (f. ἄμβροτ-ος immortal, f. ἀ not + μβροτός = μροτός = μορτός mortal, root mor- ‘die’); used in mythology for the food, etc., of the immortals, but applied by Dioscorides and Pliny to one or more herbs.]
1. In Greek mythology, The fabled food of the gods and immortals (as in Homer, etc.).
1590. T. Watson, Poems (1870), 169. Now Melibœus … drinkes Nectar, eates diuine Ambrosia.
1603. Florio, Montaigne (1634), 144. It is for Gods to mount winged horses, and to feed on Ambrosia.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., The Ambrosia is commonly represented as the solid food of the gods.
1822. De Quincey, Confess., Wks. V. 194. I had heard of it as I had heard of manna or of ambrosia.
1877. Bryant, Odyss., V. 115. A table, where the heaped ambrosia lay.
b. fig.
1610. G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict., II. xxix. But he upon ambrosia daily fed, That grew in Eden.
1629. Massinger, Picture, III. v. To feed His appetite with that ambrosia due And proper to a prince.
a. 1703. Pomfret, Poet. Wks. (1833), 13. Ambrosia mixed with aconite may have A pleasant taste, but sends you to the grave.
2. The fabled drink of the gods (as in Sappho, etc.).
1567. Maplet, Greene Forest, Ded. Whose bread is Nectar, and drink Ambrosia, a sugred and confect kinde of Wine.
1599. Marston, Scourge of Vill., II. vii. 204. Eates Nectar, drinkes Ambrosia, saunce controule.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Night Walker, I. 211. [A man that] cannot rellish Braggat from Ambrosia.
3. The fabled unguent or anointing oil of the gods; also fig.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 57. His dewie locks distill’d Ambrosia.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XIX. 375. And pour’d divine ambrosia in his breast.
1791. Cowper, Odyss., XVIII. 236. Her lovely face She with ambrosia purified.
4. transf. A mixture of water, oil, and various fruits anciently used as a libation; also a perfumed draught or flavored beverage.
1685. Gracian’s Courtier’s Orac., 201. Waters, which … smell of Physick, and they call them Ambrosia.
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Juice, This Juice being well fermented and prepar’d with Clove, Cinnamon, &c., would prove an Ambrosia, that would not be esteem’d indifferent, by those who do not care to drink Water.
1807. Robinson, Archæol. Græca, III. ii. 195. They … poured before it a libation called ambrosia, which was a mixture of water, honey, and all kinds of fruits.
5. fig. Something divinely sweet or exquisitely delightful to taste or smell.
1731. Swift, Strephon & Chloe, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 152. Venus-like her fragrant Skin Exhal’d ambrosia from within.
1823. De Quincey, King of Hayti, Wks. XII. 60. When a whole company had tasted the ambrosia of her lips.
1863. Mary Howitt, trans. Bremer’s Greece, II. xiii. 86. The flavour of the grapes is ambrosia, which I take it for granted was something divine.
6. Bee-bread.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., i. (1623), B iij. They gather with the one Nectar, with the other Ambrosia.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., The Ambrosia … if not speedily spent, corrupts and turns sowr.
1816. Kirby & Spence, Entomol. (1843), II. 149. Whether a bee had collected its ambrosia from one or more … species of flowers.
7. With the early herbalists a name of various plants: see AMBROSE.
1597. Gerard, Herbal, 950. The fragrant smell that this kinde of Ambrosia or Oke of Cappadocia yeeldeth, hath mooued the Poets to suppose that this herbe was meate and foode for the gods.
1601. Holland, Pliny (1634), II. 273. Ambrosia is a name that keepeth not to any one herb, but is common to many.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. xiii. 64. The oyles of … ambrosia, of sage, and betony.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., The Ambrosia of the moderns is not at all like the plant so called by the generality of the ancients.
8. Mod. Bot. A genus (N.O. Compositæ) consisting of weeds allied to Wormwood. A. artemisifolia is the ‘Oak of Cappadocia’ or ‘of Jerusalem.’
1721. Bailey, Ambrosia … an Herb called the Oak of Jerusalem.
