In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
PLACEBO
placebo
(noun) (Roman Catholic Church) vespers of the office for the dead
placebo
(noun) an innocuous or inert medication; given as a pacifier or to the control group in experiments on the efficacy of a drug
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
placebo (plural placebos or placeboes)
(medicine) A dummy medicine containing no active ingredients; an inert treatment. [from 18th c.]
(Roman Catholicism) The vespers sung in the office for the dead. [from 13th c.]
Anagrams
• Obecalp
Source: Wiktionary
Pla*ce"bo, n. Etym: [L., I shall please, fut. of placere to please.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Definition: The first antiphon of the vespers for the dead.
2. (Med.)
Definition: A prescription intended to humor or satisfy. To sing placebo, to agree with one in his opinion; to be complaisant to. Chaucer.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
9 May 2025
RIGHT
(noun) anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”
Coffee Trivia
