Word of the Day Archive
Tuesday November 23, 2010
mithridate \MITH-ri-deyt\
, noun:
A confection believed to contain an antidote to every poison.
The mithridate he believed to be made of the same drugs as the treacle, though they ought to be very different compositions, especially in regard to opium; one seventy-fifth part of the treacle should be opium, but not a two hundred and fortieth part in mithridate.
-- Dr. B.R. Squibb, "Hydrocyanic Acid," Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association, Volume 16, 1868.
Elizabeth had listened with half an ear while she tried to spoon the mithridate between Margaret's flaccid lips.
-- Anya Seton, The Winthrop Woman
Mithridate originates from the name of Mithridates VI, a legendary king who had an immunity to poisons.
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for mithridate
