treacle

[ tree-kuhl ]

noun

1. contrived or unrestrained sentimentality:

   a movie plot of the most shameless treacle.

2. British.
   1. molasses, especially that which is drained from the vats used in sugar refining.
   2. Also called golden syrup. a mild mixture of molasses, corn syrup, etc., used in cooking or as a table syrup.
3. Pharmacology, Obsolete. any of various medicinal compounds, formerly used as antidotes for poison.

treacle

/ ˈtriːkəl /

noun

1. Also calledblack treacle a dark viscous syrup obtained during the refining of sugar
2. another name for golden syrup
3. anything sweet and cloying
4. obsolete.
   any of various preparations used as an antidote to poisoning

Derived Forms

• ˈtreacliness, noun
• ˈtreacly, adjective

Other Words From

• trea·cly [tree, -klee], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of treacle¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, variant of triacle “antidote,” from Middle French, Old French, from Latin thēriaca, from Greek thēriakḗ, noun use of feminine of thēriakós “concerning wild beasts,” equivalent to thērí(on) “wild beast” ( thḗr “wild beast” + -ion diminutive suffix) + -akos -ac

Word History and Origins

Origin of treacle¹

C14: from Old French triacle , from Latin thēriaca antidote to poison

Example Sentences

Dessert is a slice of melt-in-your-mouth treacle tart with a dollop of perfectly tart clotted cream.

From The Daily Beast

It dripped down from my head to my toes in slow motion, as if treacle had been poured over me.

From The Daily Beast

His treacle paintings simultaneously evoke heaven, Candy Land—that beloved childhood board game—and a Katy Perry video.

From The Daily Beast

The King slabbed it on with the enjoyment of a child messing with treacle.

From Project Gutenberg

When the pork and the meal and the treacle were bestowed in the basket, it was so heavy she could not manage to carry it.

From Project Gutenberg

So treacle hath this effect, and many such like, which are hot and dry when taken after connexion.

From Project Gutenberg

Through the porous substance of these stalks the molasses or treacle slowly drained off.

From Project Gutenberg

The recipe was brimstone and treacle, but the brimstone predominated, and was the more operative ingredient.

From Project Gutenberg