mithridate

American  

[mith-ri-deyt] / ˈmɪθ rɪˌdeɪt /

noun

Old Pharmacology.

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

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mithridate British  

/ ˈmɪθrɪˌdeɪt /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of mithridate

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

Explanation

Mithridate is an ancient cure or remedy that was said to counteract the effects of poison. During the Middle Ages, people would take mithridate in the hopes of warding off the plague. Though in past centuries it was widely considered a universal antidote to any poison, mithridate was not a scientifically proven cure but more of a mythical potion. Named for its supposed first-century Greek creator, Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus, mithridate contained as many as 65 different ingredients. These included things like parsley, turpentine resin, and cinnamon. Mithridate was used to prevent or treat illness until the 19th century.

Example Sentences

If you love me, go and fetch me a little conserve of Roman wormwood and mithridate.

From Old Saint Paul's A Tale of the Plague and the Fire by Ainsworth, William Harrison

If the power of the seed be extinguished by cold, take every morning two spoonfuls of cinnamon water, with one scruple of mithridate.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

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

From The Chinese Fairy Book by Wilhelm, Richard

Make pessaries of figs and the bruised leaves of dog's mercury, rolled up in lint, and if a stronger one is required, make one of myrrh, opopanax, ammoniac, galbanum, sagepanum, mithridate, agaric, coloquintida, tec.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

The more effectually to support his character as a mountebank, Villiers sold mithridate and galbanum plasters: thousands of spectators and customers thronged every day to see and hear him.

From The Wits and Beaux of Society Volume 1 by Wharton, Grace