▪ I. philtre, philter, n.
(ˈfɪltə(r))
Also 7 filtre; 7–8 in L. form philtrum (pl. -a or -ums).
[a. F. philtre (1568 in Hatz.-Darm.), ad. L. philtrum, a. Gr. ϕίλτρον love-charm, love-potion, f. ϕιλ-, stem of ϕιλεῖν to love, ϕίλος dear, loved, loving + -τρον, suffix of instrument.]
1. A potion or drug (rarely, a charm of other kind) supposed to be capable of exciting sexual love, esp. towards a particular person; a love-potion or love-charm. Sometimes loosely, a potion or drug to produce some magical effect, a magic potion. Also fig.
| ? 1587 Newton Tryall Man's owne selfe (1602) 116 in Brand Pop. Antiq. (1870) III. 261 By any secret sleight or cunning, as Drinkes, Drugges, Medicines, charmed Potions, Amatorious Philters, Figures, Characters, or any such like paltering Instruments, Devises, or Practises. 1609 B. Jonson Sil. Wom. iv. i. (1620) I, If I should make 'hem all in loue with thee afore Night! Daup. I would say thou had'st the best Philtre. a 1618 Sylvester Maydens Blush 798 The hellish Philtree made of Stygian Wave. 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. i. ii. i. iii, They can make friends enemies, and enemies friends, by philters. 1700 S. L. tr. Fryke's Voy. E. Ind. 347, I threw all over-board, for fear some trick or philter should have been play'd with them. 1868 Tennyson Lucretius 16 A witch Who brew'd the philtre. |
| β c 1610 Randolph Eclogue Two Doctors Wks. 1875 II. 604 Love-sick Amyntas, get a philtrum here, To make thee lovely to thy truly dear. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. vi. §25 That demons..assist in making philtrums and charms. |
† 2. See quots. Obs. [So It. philtro (Florio 1598), F. philtre (Cotgr. 1611).]
| 1653 R. Sanders Physiogn. 278 A mole on the philtrum or hollow of the upper lip, under the nostrils. 1706 Phillips, Philter or Philtrum... Among some Anatomists, it is taken for the Hollow that divides the upper Lip. |
3. Comb., as philtre-bred, philtre-charmed adjs.
| 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. ii. Imposture 511 Not philtre-charm'd nor by Busiris prest. 1876 Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. iv. xxxii. (heading), The philtre-bred passion of Tristan. |
▪ II. ˈphiltre, ˈphilter, v.
[f. prec. n.]
1. trans. To charm with a philtre or love-potion; fig. to bewitch.
| 1674 Govt. Tongue vi. §34 Let [them] not..shew themselves philter'd and bewitch'd by this. a 1711 Ken Hymnotheo Poet. Wks. 1721 III. 378 Hearts philtred by Concupiscence impure. 1888 Lowell Endymion ii. 32 Soon, like wine, Her eyes, in mine poured, frenzy-philtred mine. |
2. intr. To prepare a philtre or magic potion.
| 1768 [W. Donaldson] Life Sir B. Sapskull II. xxv. 213, I thought my chymical chiromancers were philtering to charm the devil. |