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intoxicating - 4 dictionary results

in⋅tox⋅i⋅cat⋅ing

  [in-tok-si-key-ting]
Use intoxicating in a Sentence
–adjective
1. causing or capable of causing intoxication: intoxicating beverages.
2. exhilarating; exciting: an intoxicating idea.
Origin:
1625–35; intoxicate + -ing 2

Related forms:
in⋅tox⋅i⋅cat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

in⋅tox⋅i⋅cate

  [v. in-tok-si-keyt; adj. in-tok-suh-kit, -keyt] verb, -cat⋅ed, -cat⋅ing, adjective
–verb (used with object)
1. to affect temporarily with diminished physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance, esp. to excite or stupefy with liquor.
2. to make enthusiastic; elate strongly, as by intoxicants; exhilarate: The prospect of success intoxicated him.
3. Pathology. to poison.
–verb (used without object)
4. to cause or produce intoxication: having the power to intoxicate.
–adjective
5. Archaic. intoxicated.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < ML intoxicātus, ptp. of intoxicāre to poison. See in- 2 , toxic, -ate 1

Related forms:
in⋅tox⋅i⋅ca⋅ble  [in-tok-si-kuh-buhl] , adjective
in⋅tox⋅i⋅ca⋅tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To intoxicating
in·tox·i·cate   (ĭn-tŏk'sĭ-kāt')   
v.   in·tox·i·cat·ed, in·tox·i·cat·ing, in·tox·i·cates

v.   tr.
  1. To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol.
  2. To stimulate or excite: "a man whom life intoxicates, who has no need of wine" (Anaïs Nin).
  3. To poison.
v.   intr.
To cause stupefaction, stimulation, or excitement by or as if by use of a chemical substance: "The notion of Holy War is showing that it has not yet lost all its power to intoxicate and to inflame" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).

[Middle English, to poison, from Medieval Latin intoxicāre, intoxicāt- : Latin in-, in; see in-2 + Late Latin toxicāre, to smear with poison (from Latin toxicum, poison; see toxic).]
in·tox'i·cat'ing·ly adv., in·tox'i·ca'tive adj., in·tox'i·ca'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Intoxicating

In*tox"i*ca`ting\, a. Producing intoxication; fitted to intoxicate; as, intoxicating liquors.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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