Other forms: nepenthes
Nepenthe is a magical potion or plant from ancient mythology said to have the power to make people forget their sorrows. Today, the word is often used metaphorically for anything that provides relief or escape from grief or troubles.
The word nepenthe comes from the Greek roots nē-, meaning "not," and penthos, meaning "grief." It appears in Homer's Odyssey, where Helen of Troy gives the potion to her guests so they will forget their grief over lost soldiers in the Trojan War. Edgar Allan Poe referred to it in his famous poem The Raven, in the line "Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!" Over time, the word has come to describe anything — e.g., music, writing, nature, or sleep — that helps relieve sorrow or emotional pain.