empoison

American  

[em-poi-zuhn] / ɛmˈpɔɪ zən /

verb (used with object)

1. to corrupt.

   to empoison the minds of the young.

2. to embitter.

   His own failure has empoisoned him.

3. Archaic. to poison.

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empoison British  

/ ɪmˈpɔɪzən /

verb

1. rare to embitter or corrupt

2. an archaic word for poison poison poison poison

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Other Word Forms

• empoisonment noun
• unempoisoned adjective

Etymology

Origin of empoison

1275–1325; Middle English empoysonen < Old French empoisoner. See em- ¹, poison

Example Sentences

One doth not know     How much an ill word may empoison liking.

From Much Ado about Nothing by Shakespeare, William

The pest killeth but the bodies, but such abominable imposters empoison our very souls.

From Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 1 by Motteux, Peter Anthony

"One doth not know How much an ill word may empoison liking."

From How to be Happy Though Married Being a Handbook to Marriage by Hardy, Edward John

That these disdaineous females and this ferocious old woman are placed here by the administration, not only to empoison the voyagers, but to affront them!

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 11 by Mabie, Hamilton Wright

Brimborion remembered that she had always warned "Mr. Jack" that this woman would "empoison" him.

From Tales of the Argonauts by Harte, Bret