libation

[Fr., from Lat. libationem, acc us. of libatio =a libation, from libatus, pa. par. of libo =to sip, to pour out; Gr. leibo; Sp.libacion; Ital. lib azione.] 1. Compar. Religions : A sacrifice, by an actual drink offering, by pouring liquids usually oil or wine-on the ground in honor of a divinity, or by the combination of both methods. In cla ic times bloody sacrifices were usually accompanied by libations, which always formed part of the religious ceremonies at the conclusion of a treaty of peace; hence the Greek spondai =a solemn treaty, from spendo to offer a libation. (Cf. Virg., Æn . v. 77; xii. 174). Sometimes libations were independent enden acts of worship ( Il . xvi. 233); and they found a place in convivial gatherings and banquets (Virg., Æn . i. 734-38; Georg . ii. 101; Hor., Carm . IV. 31-34; Ovid, Fasti , ii. 637). Libations were usually of unmixed wine ( enspondos merum ), but sometimes of milk, honey, and other fluids, either pure or diluted with water (Plin., H. N. xiv. 19). The word "libation" does not occur in the A. V., but clear traces of the practice may be found. "Jacob set up " a pillar of stone, and he poured a drink offering thereon and he poured oil thereon (Gen. xxxv. 14). "Strong wine" was ordained " d "to be poured unto the Lord for a drink offering" (Numb. xxviii. 7); and Jeremiah (xix. 13) charges it against the people of Jerusalem and the kings of Judah "that they have poured out drink offerings unto other gods," and to "the queen of heaven" (xliv. 17, 19, 25). "In this idea of a god eternally insatiable, joined to the hunger such restle nomads must often have suffered, is to be found the first cause of libation , of offering, of sacrifice."-R. Heath : Elgar Quinet , p. 284. 2. The wine or other liquor so poured out. "And large libations drenched the sands around." Pope: Homer's Iliad, ix. 230. li-ba-tor-ỹ, a. [As if from a Lat. lib at or i us, from libatus, pa. par. of libo.] Of or pertaining to libations. *lib-bard, s. [Ger. liebard .] [LEOPARD.] A leopard. "The lion, and the libbard , and the bear." Cowper: Task , vi. 773. libbard's-bane, s. [LEOPARD'S-BANE.] lib-bět, s. [Etym. doubtful; perhaps a variant of billet.] A billet of wood. *11-běc-chi-ō, s. [Ital. libeccio .] The southwest wind.