ichor

[ ahy-kawr, ahy-ker ]

/ ˈaɪ kɔr, ˈaɪ kər /

noun

Classical Mythology. an ethereal fluid flowing in the veins of the gods.

Pathology. an acrid, watery discharge, as from an ulcer or wound.

Nearby words

ichnofossil, ichnographic, ichnography, ichnolite, ichnology, ichor, ichoroid, ichorous, ichorrhea, ichth., ichthammol

Origin of ichor

1630–40; < Late Latin īchōr (in medical sense) < Greek īchṓr

Related formsi·chor·ous

[ahy-ker-uh s] /ˈaɪ kər əs/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ichor

From this moral ulcer there flows out daily and nightly an ichor as destructive as that from a cancer.
Cast Adrift|T. S. Arthur
Dione then wiped the ichor from the hand of Venus, and at her touch the wound healed and the pain ceased.
The Story of Troy|Michael Clarke
Then the mast elephant of the wind began to rush, showering drops of rain like drops of ichor, and rooting up trees.
The Kath Sarit Sgara|Somadeva Bhatta
She spoke, and with her palms wiped off the ichor from her hand: the hand was healed, and the severe pains mitigated.
The Iliad of Homer (1873)|Homer

Winifred was not discontented with her lot—the ichor of youth and good health flowed too strongly in her veins.
The Bartlett Mystery|Louis Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for ichor

ichor

/ (ˈaɪkɔː) /

noun

Greek myth the fluid said to flow in the veins of the gods

pathol a foul-smelling watery discharge from a wound or ulcer

Derived Formsichorous, adjective

Word Origin for ichor

C17: from Greek ikhōr, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ichor

ichor

1630s, from Greek ikhor, of unknown origin, possibly from a non-Indo-European language. The fluid that serves for blood in the veins of the gods. Related: Ichorous.

Medicine definitions for ichor

ichor

[ ī′kôr′, ī′kər ]

n.

A watery, acrid discharge from a wound or ulcer.

Related formsi′chor•ous (ī′kər-əs) adj.