ambrosia

Where does the word "ambrosia" come from? It comes from Greek ambrosia, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Ambrosia’s story begins in Greek: ambrosia meant “the food of the gods, immortality.” Literally immortal, the mythical food of the Greek gods. It reached English by 1600s as ambrosia. Broadened from the divine food to anything exceptionally delicious. Today, ambrosia means something particularly delicious, originally the mythical food of the Greek gods.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient ambrosia "the food of the gods, immortality", literally immortal, the mythical food of the Greek gods.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s ambrosia "something exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell", broadened from the divine food to anything exceptionally delicious.