Am*bro"sia (?; 277), n. [L. ambrosia,
Gr. &?;, properly fem. of &?;, fr. &?; immortal, divine; 'a
priv. + &?; mortal (because it was supposed to confer immortality on those
who partook of it). &?; stands for &?;, akin to Skr. mrita, L.
mortuus, dead, and to E. mortal.] 1.
(Myth.) (a) The fabled food of the gods (as
nectar was their drink), which conferred immortality upon those who partook
of it. (b) An unguent of the gods.
His dewy locks distilled ambrosia.
Milton.
2. A perfumed unguent, salve, or draught; something
very pleasing to the taste or smell. Spenser.
3. Formerly, a kind of fragrant plant; now (Bot.),
a genus of plants, including some coarse and worthless weeds, called
ragweed, hogweed, etc.
Am*bro"sia (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The food of certain small bark beetles, family
Scolytidæ believed to be fungi cultivated by the beetles
in their burrows.
Am*bro"sia (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The food of certain small bark beetles, family
Scolytidæ believed to be fungi cultivated by the beetles
in their burrows.
