elixir
[ ih-lik-ser ]
/ ɪˈlɪk sər /
noun
Pharmacology.
a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances.
Also called elixir of life.
an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of prolonging life.
an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of transmuting base metals into gold.
the quintessence or absolute embodiment of anything.
a panacea; cure-all; sovereign remedy.
Origin of elixir
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin < Arabic
al iksīr alchemical preparation < Late Greek
xḗrion drying powder (for wounds), equivalent to Greek
xēr(ós) dry +
-ion, neuter of
-ios adj. suffix
Words nearby elixir
elissa,
elite,
elitism,
elitist,
elix.,
elixir,
eliz.,
eliza,
elizabeth,
elizabeth city,
elizabeth i
Example sentences from the Web for elixir
British Dictionary definitions for elixir
elixir
/ (ɪˈlɪksə) /
noun
an alchemical preparation supposed to be capable of prolonging life indefinitely (elixir of life) or of transmuting base metals into gold
anything that purports to be a sovereign remedy; panacea
an underlying principle; quintessence
a liquid containing a medicinal drug with syrup, glycerine, or alcohol added to mask its unpleasant taste
Word Origin for elixir
C14: from Medieval Latin, from Arabic
al iksīr the elixir, probably from Greek
xērion powder used for drying wounds, from
xēros dry
Medical definitions for elixir
elixir
[ ĭ-lĭk′sər ]
n.
A sweetened aromatic solution of alcohol and water, serving as a vehicle for medicine.