sop to Cerberus

sop to Cer·​be·​rus

-ˈsərb(ə)rəs

: a concession or bribe to conciliate a person otherwise liable to be troublesome

Word History

Etymology

after Cerberus, 3-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades; from the sop given him by Aeneas in Vergil's Aeneid (6,417) to engage his attention while Aeneas slipped by

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!