alexipharmacum

English

Etymology

From Latin alexipharmacum, from Ancient Greek ἀλεξιφάρμακον (alexiphármakon).

Noun

alexipharmacum (plural alexipharmaca)

1. (obsolete) Something which protects against, or cures, a poison; an antidote.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 5, member 3, subsection i:

     he calls steel the proper alexipharmacum of this malady, and much magnifies it […].

Related terms

• alexipharmac
• alexipharmacon
• alexipharmakon
• alexipharmic
• alexipharmical