cup

cup [-s] n

OE < mod. Fr. coupe, drinking-vessel, cup.

  1. Drink; cupful; vessel with strong drink contained in it.
  2. Drinking-vessel; small glass; small open container for liquids.
  3. Eucharist; sacrament of the Lord's supper; wine taken at the Communion; [allusion to the “bitter cup”] suffering of Christ for all humankind in the garden of Gethsemane (see Luke 22:41-44).
  4. Experience; [fig.] suffering; affliction; bitter agony of Christ's atonement (see Luke 22:42).