theriac

American  

[theer-ee-ak] / ˈθɪər iˌæk /

Also theriaca

noun

1. molasses; treacle.

2. a paste formerly used as an antidote to poison, especially snake venom, made from 60 or 70 different drugs pulverized and mixed with honey.

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theriac British  

/ ˈθɪərɪæk /

noun

1. an ointment or potion of varying composition, used as an antidote to a poison

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Other Word Forms

• theriacal adjective

Etymology

Origin of theriac

before 1000; < Latin thēriaca antidote to poison < Greek thēriakḗ, feminine of thēriakós, equivalent to thērí ( on ) wild beast + -akos -ac; replacing Middle English tiriake, Old English tȳriaca < Medieval Latin, variant of thēriaca

Example Sentences

Jack of the Buttery, a name applied to p. 111Sedum acre, is said to be a corruption from bot, i.e. an internal parasite, and theriac, by which was meant a cure for that evil. 

From Springtime and Other Essays by Darwin, Francis, Sir

Whenever any compound was for any reason spoiled in the drug store, the rule was, "Put that aside for the theriac."

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)

Ancient medicine looked first of all for the universal panacea and boiled theriac; contemporary medicine dissects, uses the microscope, and experiments, recognizes no panacea, accepts barely a few specifics.

From Criminal Psychology; a manual for judges, practitioners, and students by Gross, Hans Gustav Adolf

The fearful suffering and violent convulsions which followed only subsided at the expiration of five or six hours, and at last, the theriac which was administered to him after the bite, effected a cure.

From Celebrated Travels and Travellers Part 2. The Great Navigators of the Eighteenth Century by Benett, Léon

The doctors found that the Morholt had thrust into him a poisoned barb, and as their potions and their theriac could never heal him they left him in God’s hands.

From The Romance of Tristan and Iseult by Belloc, Hilaire

Related Words

• elixir
• magic bullet