philter

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a supposedly magical potion, especially one intended to arouse love

   In the folktale, the rejected suitor seeks a philter from a sorceress.

2. 2
   verb

   archaic: to affect, enchant, or excite with a love potion

   The legend claims that the queen was philtered into loving a stranger.

From Middle French philtre, from Greek philtron ('love charm'), related to philein ('to love'). Philter is the usual American spelling beside British philtre; the rare verb developed directly from the noun's supposed power to induce love.

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