Also 4 libacioun, 5 lybacion. [ad. L. lībātiōn-em, n. of action f. lībā-re to LIBATE.] The pouring out of wine or other liquid in honor of a god; concr. the liquid so poured out; a drink-offering.
1382. Wyclif, Ezek. xx. 28. Thei … sacrifieden her libaciouns.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxii. 81. The good wynes of swete odour ordeyned for the lybacions or washynges of the sacryfices.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1196. They used this water for the solemne libations at sacrifices.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, I. 1030. Sprinkling the first Libations on the Ground.
1743. J. Davidson, Æneid, VII. 184. Pour forth bowls in Libation to Jove.
1834. Lytton, Pompeii, I. iii. The guests followed the prayer, and then, sprinkling the wine on the table, they performed the wonted libation.
1877. C. Geikie, Christ, xlix. (1879), 584. Water to be poured out at the time of the morning offering as a libation.
b. transf. (somewhat jocular). Liquid poured out to be drunk; hence a potation.
1751. Earl Orrery, Remarks Swift (1752), 47. Libations to his health, or, in plain english, bumpers were poured forth to the Drapier.
a. 1797. H. Walpole, Mem. Geo. III. (1845), I. xxii. 313. Some jovial dinners and libations of champagne cemented their friendship.
c. 1850. Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.), 412. In consequence of their repeated libations, they began both of them to be considerably heated.
1856. Sir B. Brodie, Psychol. Inq., I. App. 254. They prepared themselves for the task by a plentiful libation of gin.
c. fig.
1781. Cowper, Retirement, 226. He … weeps a sad libation in despair.
1817. Moore, Lalla R. (1824), 273. Never yet … hath the sword More terrible libations poured!
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, I. 344. Willing, nay glad, to pour out his whole life as a libation.
d. attrib.
1776. Burney, Hist. Mus., I. ii. 40. The spondean melody, that is the libation tune of Olympus.
1865. J. H. Ingraham, Pillar of Fire (1872), 256. Bearers of libation-vases.
1877. A. B. Edwards, Up Nile, iv. 80. A libation-table on which was engraved a hieroglyphic inscription to Apis-Osiris.
