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

Example Sentences

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

From Project Gutenberg

Their kinsman garlic bring, the poor man’s mithridate.

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg

What silly mariner in my ship hath not bought or begged mithridate or a pinch of achimenius wherewith to make good his voyage?

From Project Gutenberg

Household furniture is exported to Genoa, besides the usual articles: velvets, which were then the best in the world; satins, the best coral, mithridate, and treacle, are the principal or the peculiar imports.

From Project Gutenberg