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

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 McRae, Charles

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 Kerr, Robert

The fearful suffering and violent convulsions which followed only subsided at the expiration of five or six hours, and at last, the theriac which was administered to him after the bite, effected a cure.

From Celebrated Travels and Travellers Part 2. The Great Navigators of the Eighteenth Century by Benett, Léon

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 Davenport, John

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

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)

Related Words

• elixir
• magic bullet