theriac
[ theer-ee-ak ]
/ ˈθɪər iˌæk /
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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, adjectiveWords nearby theriac
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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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
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