decoction

[ dih-kok-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of decocting.
2. Pharmacology.
   1. an extract obtained by decocting.
   2. water in which a crude vegetable drug has been boiled and which therefore contains the constituents or principles of the substance soluble in boiling water.

decoction

/ dɪˈkɒkʃən /

noun

1. pharmacol the extraction of the water-soluble substances of a drug or medicinal plants by boiling
2. the essence or liquor resulting from this

Other Words From

• de·coctive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of decoction¹

1350–1400; Middle English decoccioun < Old French decoction < Late Latin dēcoctiōn- (stem of dēcoctiō ) a boiling down, equivalent to dēcoct ( us ), past participle of dēcoquere ( dē- de- + coc-, for coquere to cook ¹ + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of decoction¹

C14: from Old French, from Late Latin dēcoctiō, from dēcoquere to boil down, from coquere to cook

Example Sentences

He chewed the gum to make his breath sweet and drank a decoction of the root to make him live forever.

From Project Gutenberg

From the infusion made with boiling water, or from the decoction.

From Project Gutenberg

From the infusion or decoction of the root of white bryony (Bryonia dioica).

From Project Gutenberg

By evaporating the decoction, or the infusion made with hot water.

From Project Gutenberg

From the decoction of the fresh root of couch grass, evaporated to the consistence of new honey.

From Project Gutenberg

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