sops in wine

Sop \Sop\, n. [OE. sop, soppe; akin to AS. s?pan to sup, to sip,
   to drink, D. sop sop, G. suppe soup, Icel. soppa sop. See
   {Sup}, v. t., and cf. {Soup}.]
   1. Anything steeped, or dipped and softened, in any liquid;
      especially, something dipped in broth or liquid food, and
      intended to be eaten.
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            He it is to whom I shall give a sop, when I have
            dipped it.                            --John xiii.
                                                  26.
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            Sops in wine, quantity, inebriate more than wine
            itself.                               --Bacon.
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            The bounded waters
            Should lift their bosoms higher than the shores,
            And make a sop of all this solid globe. --Shak.
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   2. Anything given to pacify; -- so called from the sop given
      to Cerberus, as related in mythology.
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            All nature is cured with a sop.       --L'Estrange.
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   3. A thing of little or no value. [Obs.] --P. Plowman.
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   {Sops in wine} (Bot.), an old name of the clove pink,
      alluding to its having been used to flavor wine.
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            Garlands of roses and sops in wine.   --Spenser.
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   {Sops of wine} (Bot.), an old European variety of apple, of a
      yellow and red color, shading to deep red; -- called also
      {sopsavine}, and {red shropsavine}.
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