theriac

American  

[theer-ee-ak] / ˈθɪər iˌæk /

Also theriaca

noun

1. molasses; treacle.

2. 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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theriac British  

/ ˈθɪərɪæk /

noun

1. an ointment or potion of varying composition, used as an antidote to a poison

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Other Word Forms

• theriacal
  adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

theriac

Whenever any compound was for any reason spoiled in the drug store, the rule was, "Put that aside for the theriac."

From Psychotherapy by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh

In the second period of the distemper, the same drinks were continued, adding thereto some theriac or Jesuit's bark, in order to lessen the frequency of the diarrhœtic evacuations.

From On the cattle plague: or, Contagious typhus in horned cattle. Its history, origin, description, and treatment by Honor? Bourguignon

The best application of this kind is that composed of cinnamon powder, gilliflower, ginger and rose water, together with theriac, the crumb of bread, and red wine.

From Aphrodisiacs and Anti-aphrodisiacs: Three Essays on the Powers of Reproduction by John Davenport

Being, however, provided with theriac and other antidotes against the poison, Alvaro and all his men recovered from their wounds.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 02 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Robert Kerr

He travelled through Thrace and Macedonia on foot, met the imperial personages, and prepared for them a medicine, for which he seems to have been famous, and which is spoken of as the theriac.

From Fathers of Biology by Charles McRae

Related Words

• elixir
• magic bullet