[i-lik-ser] 
| 1. | Pharmacology. a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing, or used as a vehicle for, medicinal substances. |
| 2. | Also called elixir of life. an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of prolonging life. |
| 3. | an alchemic preparation formerly believed to be capable of transmuting base metals into gold. |
| 4. | the quintessence or absolute embodiment of anything. |
| 5. | a panacea; cure-all; sovereign remedy. |
rion drying powder (for wounds), equiv. to Gk xēr(ós) dry + -ion, neut. of -ios adj. suffix
| e·lix·ir (ĭ-lĭk'sər) n.
[Middle English, a substance of transmutative properties, from Old French elissir, from Medieval Latin elixir, from Arabic al-'iksīr : al, the + 'iksīr, elixir (probably from Greek xērion, desiccative powder, from xēros, dry).] |
elixir e·lix·ir (ĭ-lĭk'sər)
n.
A sweetened aromatic solution of alcohol and water, serving as a vehicle for medicine.
elixir of life
in alchemy, substance thought to be capable of changing base metals into gold. The same term, more fully elixir vitae, "elixir of life," was given to the substance that would indefinitely prolong life-a liquid that was believed to be allied with the philosopher's stone. Chinese Taoists not only sought the "pill of immortality" but developed techniques (meditation, breathing exercises, diet) that were thought to confer immortality by internal alchemy.
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