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Glite Dictionary
anisette

anisette

1 9.8
A sweet clear alcoholic drink flavored with anise seeds
  • noun
  • /ˌænɪˈzɛt/
translation icon : anisette
  • During the celebration, everyone raised their glasses filled with anisette for a toast.
  • a bottle of anisette

Examples

  • In an attempt to strengthen her, her mother doses her with her own elixir, anisette.

    Academic text (1992)

  • "Too early in the day for anisette," he said.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • On the ride down, he drank anisette, zigzagging.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Nevertheless, we entered a cafe to order a couple of anisettes.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Black pearls were dropped, fizzing, into glasses of anisette; toasts were made.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • He would drink an espresso and anisette and eat some Stella D'oro bread.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • This time he made a panache; he mixed his absinthe with mint syrup and a spot of anisette.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • We ordered coq au vin and tenderloin braised in anisette.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • At the lively restaurant, guests enjoyed sweet anisette after their meal.

  • She served a chilled glass of anisette alongside the dessert to complement the flavors.

Synonyms

anisette de Bordeaux
vsanisette
9.9

A sweet clear alcoholic drink from Bordeaux flavored with anise and drunk after a meal

is the same sweet, colorless liquorice drink without the Bordeaux origin
anis
vsanisette
9.6

A sweet French drink flavored with anise, served before a meal

is a sweet, colorless liquorice drink rather than mainly an aperitif

Compounds

anisette de Bordeaux
9.9

A sweet clear alcoholic drink from Bordeaux flavored with anise and drunk after a meal

Surface Forms

anisette singular
anisettes plural

Morphology

anisette = anise (transparent) = anise + ette

The meaning is directly derived from 'anise' with the diminutive/productive suffix '-ette' indicating an anise-flavoured derivative (a liqueur).

Etymology

Anisette comes from French anis 'anise', the spice, plus the ending -ette meaning 'small'. So anisette is like a 'small anise', which helps you remember it is a sweet, usually clear liqueur made from aniseed with a licorice-like taste.