Elixir

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Elixir \E*lix"ir\, n. [F. ['e]lixir, Sp. elixir, Ar.
     eliks[imac]r the philosopher's stone, prob. from Gr. ? dry,
     (hence probably) a dry powder; cf. Skr. ksh[=a] to burn.]
     1. (Med.) A tincture with more than one base; a compound
        tincture or medicine, composed of various substances, held
        in solution by alcohol in some form.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Alchemy) An imaginary liquor capable of transmuting
        metals into gold; also, one for producing life
        indefinitely; as, elixir vit[ae], or the elixir of life.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. The refined spirit; the quintessence.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The . . . elixir of worldly delights. --South.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Any cordial or substance which invigorates.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The grand elixir, to support the spirits of human
              nature.                               --Addison.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  elixir
       n 1: a sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount
            of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by
            mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste
       2: a substance believed to cure all ills

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  99 Moby Thesaurus words for "elixir":
     axiom, balm, balsam, base, basis, broad-spectrum drug, catholicon,
     center, compound, concentrate, concentration, core, cure, cure-all,
     decoction, distillate, distillation, drops, drug, electuary,
     elixir of life, elixir vitae, essence, essential, ethical drug,
     extract, extraction, fabric, flower, focus, fundamental,
     generic name, gist, gravamen, heart, herbs, hypostasis, infusion,
     inhalant, inner essence, kernel, lincture, linctus, marrow,
     materia medica, material, matter, meat, medicament, medication,
     medicinal, medicinal herbs, medicine, medium, mixture,
     nonprescription drug, nostrum, nub, nucleus, nuts and bolts,
     officinal, panacea, patent medicine, pharmacon, physic, pith,
     polychrest, postulate, potion, powder, preparation,
     prescription drug, principle, proprietary, proprietary medicine,
     proprietary name, purification, quid, quiddity, quintessence,
     refinement, sap, simples, soul, sovereign remedy, spirit, stuff,
     substance, sum and substance, syrup, the nitty-gritty, therapeutic,
     theraputant, therapy, theriac, tincture, tisane, universal remedy,
     vegetable remedies