nectar

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a sweet liquid secretion that is attractive to pollinators
  2. noun fruit juice especially when undiluted
  3. noun (classical mythology) the food and drink of the gods; mortals who ate it became immortal

Etymology

From Latin nectar, from Ancient Greek νέκταρ (néktar, “nourishment of the gods”), from Proto-Indo-European *neḱ- (“perish, disappear”) + *-tr̥h₂ (“overcoming”), from *terh₂- (“to overcome, pass through, cross over”).

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