Am-brō'siā, n.

(-brō'zhā) (Synop., § 130), n. [Lat. ambrosia, Gr. ἀμβροσία, prop. f. of ἀμβρόσιος, lengthened form of ἄμβροτος; immortal, divine, from a priv. and βροτός, mortal, because it was supposed to confer immortality on those who partook of it. Βροτός stands for μροτός, Skr. mṛta, for marta, dead, Lat. mortuus; Skr. mṛ, to die, Lat. mori; ἀμβροσία for ἀμροσία.]

1Sense 1. (Myth.) The food of the gods, which conferred upon those who partook of it eternal youth. It was also used by the gods to anoint their body and hair. Ambrosia his dewy locks distilled. Milton.

2Sense 2. (Bot.) A genus of plants, including some coarse and worthless weeds, called rag-weed, hog-weed, &c.