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li·ba·tion

(lī-bāshən)

a. The pouring of a liquid offering as a religious ritual.

b. The liquid so poured.

2. Informal

a. A beverage, especially an intoxicating beverage.

b. The act of drinking an intoxicating beverage.

[Middle English libacioun, from Latin lībātiō, lībātiōn-, from lībātus, past participle of lībāre, to pour out as an offering.]

li·bation·ar′y (-shə-nĕr′ē) adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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