mithridate

[ mith-ri-deyt ]

noun

, Old Pharmacology.

1. a confection believed to contain an antidote to every poison.

mithridate

/ ˈmɪθrɪˌdeɪt /

noun

1. obsolete.
   a substance believed to be an antidote to every poison and a cure for every disease

Word History and Origins

Origin of mithridate¹

1520–30; earlier mithridatum < Medieval Latin, variant of Late Latin mithridātium, noun use of neuter of Mithridātius, equivalent to Mithridāt(ēs) Mithridates VI ( def ) ( mithridatism ) + -ius -ious

Word History and Origins

Origin of mithridate¹

C16: from Late Latin mithradatium, after Mithridates VI , alluding to his legendary immunity to poisons

Example Sentences

Note: Realgar: The Chinese believe that realgar is a mithridate and tonic.

From Project Gutenberg