electuary

[ih-lek-choo-er-ee]

noun

Pharmacology, Veterinary Medicine.

plural

electuaries 

1. a pasty mass composed of a medicine, usually in powder form, mixed in a palatable medium, as syrup, honey, or other sweet substance: used especially for animals and administered by application to the teeth, tongue, or gums.

electuary

/ ɪˈlɛktjʊərɪ /

noun

1. archaic,  a paste taken orally, containing a drug mixed with syrup or honey

Word History and Origins

Origin of electuary¹

1350–1400; Middle English electuarie < Late Latin elect ( u ) ārium a medicinal lozenge, alteration (by confusion with Latin ēlēctus (adj.) choice, good quality, ēlēctus (noun) choice) of Greek ekleiktón lozenge (neuter verbal adjective of ekleíchein to lick up; ek- ec- + leíchein to lick ); -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of electuary¹

C14: from Late Latin ēlēctuārium, probably from Greek ēkleikton electuary, from ekleikhein to lick out, from leikhein to lick

Example Sentences

Make your electuary with honey emblici, which is the fourth kind of mirobulans with roses, strained in equall partes, as much as will suffice.

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“This celebrated and incredibly nasty compound,” adds Lady Verney, “traditionally composed by Nero’s physician, was made of vipers, white wine, and opium, ‘spices from both the Indies,’ liquorice, red roses, tops of germander, juice of rough aloes, seeds of treacle mustard, tops of St. John’s wort, and some twenty other herbs, to be mixed with honey ‘triple the weight of all the dry species’ into an electuary.”

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He was an early riser, and after taking a dose of anti-pestilential electuary, he attended to any private business that needed immediate decision, and then went to his consulting room, and for three hours received a succession of patients, some already ill of the plague, others only infected by fear.

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Catholicon, is little used, or made here, the lenitive Electuary of our Dispensatory may be substituted for it, or that of the Edinburgh Dispensatory, which was calculated particularly for Glysters.

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To these well rubbed together into fine Powder, add the Weight of the whole, of the best and freshest Bark; then drop in three Drops of the chemical Oil of Mint, and with Syrup of Cloves make it into the Consistence of an Electuary or Bolus, for 12 Doses for a grown Person, to be taken at the Distance of three or four Hours from each other, while the Patient is awake, according to the longer or shorter Intermission of the Fever.

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