ambrŏsĭa, ae, f., = ἀμβροσία.
I Lit., ambrosia , the food of the gods (as nectar was their drink): non enim ambrosiā deos aut nectare laetari arbitror, Cic. Tusc. 1, 26, 65; Ov. P. 1, 10, 11: Suaviolum dulci dulcius ambrosiā, Cat. 99, 2.—Hence: orator ambrosiā alendus, prov. once in Cic., qs. a god among orators , of a distinguished orator (opp. faenum esse), Cic. de Or. 2, 57.— Also food for the steeds of the gods : equos ambrosiae suco saturos, Ov. M. 2, 120; 4, 215 (acc. to Hom. Il. 5, 368 and 369).—
II Transf.
A The unguent of the gods (so, ἀμβροσία, Hom. Il. 14, 170; 16, 670): ambrosiā cum dulci nectare mixtā Contigit os, Ov. M. 14, 606: liquidum ambrosiae diffundit odorem, Verg. G. 4, 415; id. A. 12, 419.—
B The name of several plants , esp. of the botrys or artemisia, Turkish mugwort : Choenopodium botrys, Linn.; Plin. 27, 4, 11, § 28.—Another plant of this name, Plin. 27, 8, 31, § 55.—
C An antidote to poison , Cels. 5, 23.