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elixir

Etymology and origin of the English word elixir

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From
Latin elixir via Middle English

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɪˈlɪksə/ (UK); /ɪˈlɪksɚ/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English elixir,[2][3] from Medieval Latin elixir,[2][3][4][5] from Arabic الإكسير (al-iksīr, “the elixir”),[2][3][4][5] from Arabic ال (al, “the”) + إكسير (iksīr, “elixir, philosopher's stone”),[2][3][4] probably from Ancient Greek ξήριον (xḗrion, “powder for drying wounds”),[2][3][4][5] from xērós “dry”.[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In alchemy, a preparation sought to change base metals into gold, often identified with the philosopher's stone (late 14th century).[6][4][3]

Semantic evolution

Alchemists also imagined an elixir that would prolong life indefinitely;[6][2] the OED's earliest quotation for this sense dates from 1266, and Etymonline dates the word to the mid-13th century.[6][5] From this the word came to mean a remedy for all ills, and from the 1630s the name of quack medicines.[6][5] In pharmacy it named a strong tincture (1597) and later a sweetened alcoholic solution used to carry medicines.[6][2] Figuratively it has meant the essence or secret principle of a thing (1638; before 1500 in Barnhart).[6][4]

Timeline

  • 1266 – a drug supposed to prolong life indefinitely (in the OED).[6]
  • about 1386 – an alchemical preparation for turning metals into gold.[6]
  • 1597 – a strong extract or tincture.[6]
  • 1631 – a sovereign remedy; a quack medicine.[6][5]
  • 1638 – the quintessence of a thing.[6]
  • 1736 – in pharmacy, a medicinal preparation.[6]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A sweetened solution of alcohol and water used as a vehicle for medicine.
  2. A substance believed to prolong life indefinitely.
  3. A supposed cure for all ills; a panacea.
  4. The alchemists' philosopher's stone, thought to turn base metals into gold.
  5. The essential principle of something.

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Elixir.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/elixir. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·