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theriac

[ theer-ee-ak ]
/ ˈθɪər iˌæk /
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See synonyms for theriac on Thesaurus.com
noun
molasses; treacle.
a paste formerly used as an antidote to poison, especially snake venom, made from 60 or 70 different drugs pulverized and mixed with honey.
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Also the·ri·a·ca [thuh-rahy-uh-kuh]. /θəˈraɪ ə kə/.

Origin of theriac

before 1000; <Latin thēriaca antidote to poison <Greek thēriakḗ, feminine of thēriakós, equivalent to thērí(on) wild beast + -akos-ac; replacing Middle English tiriake,Old English tȳriaca<Medieval Latin, variant of thēriaca

OTHER WORDS FROM theriac

the·ri·a·cal, adjective

Words nearby theriac

There was a little girl / Who had a little curl, “There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe”, therewith, therewithal, Therezina, theriac, therian, therianthropic, theriatrics, theridiid, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to theriac

elixir, magic bullet, catholicon, nostrum

How to use theriac in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for theriac

theriac
/ (ˈθɪərɪæk) /
noun archaic
an ointment or potion of varying composition, used as an antidote to a poison

Word Origin for theriac

C14: from Latin thēriaca antidote to poison
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
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