mithridate

[ mith-ri-deyt ]

/ ˈmɪθ rɪˌdeɪt /

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noun Old Pharmacology.

a confection believed to contain an antidote to every poison.

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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 (see mithridatism) + -ius -ious

Words nearby mithridate

mither, Mithgarthr, Mithraeum, Mithraism, Mithras, mithridate, Mithridates VI, mithridatism, mithridatize, miticide, mitigate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mithridate in a sentence

To produce sweating, employ cardus water, and mithridate, or a decoction of guaiacum and sarsaparilla.
The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher|Anonymous
When she comes out of her bath, give her an ounce of syrup of feverfew with a drachm of dog's tooth (mithridate).
The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher|Anonymous
It was also a true and frank admiration which caused him to dry his tears at Iphigenie, and to order the repetition of Mithridate.
Louis XIV and La Grande Mademoiselle|Arvede Barine
What silly mariner in my ship hath not bought or begged mithridate or a pinch of achimenius wherewith to make good his voyage?
Sir Mortimer|Mary Johnston

The more powerful diaphoretic treacles, such as mithridate, were always a mistake.
A History of Epidemics in Britain, Volume II (of 2)|Charles Creighton

British Dictionary definitions for mithridate

mithridate

/ (ˈmɪθrɪˌdeɪt) /

noun

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

Word Origin for mithridate

C16: from Late Latin mithradatium, after Mithridates VI, alluding to his legendary immunity to poisons

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