elixir

Forms

elixir n (genitive elixiris); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Arabic الإكسير (al-iksīr, “the philosopher's stone; healing powder”),^[2][3][4] which probably comes from Late Greek ξήριον (xḗrion, “powder for drying wounds”),^[4][2] from ξηρός (xērós, “dry”).^[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler cites it first from the alchemical Turba philosophorum, dated to the 11th century,^[5] in the sense of a dry powder able to change the nature of metals and stones.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

In the alchemical literature translated from Arabic it named the substance that transmutes metals, the philosopher's stone.^[2][3][4] Spellings vary widely: elixer, alixir, ixir, iksir and others, and a form elixirium of the second declension.^[5][2][1] British sources use it in alchemy;^[3] in later pharmacy it came to name a medicine.^[1][4] English took the word over in the mid-13th century.^[4]

Timeline

• 11th century – The Turba philosophorum uses it as an alchemical powder.^[5]
• mid-13th century – Borrowed into English as elixir.^[4]
• 1590s – English elixir takes the general sense of a strong tonic.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin, alchemy) A powder or substance able to change the nature of metals and stones; the philosopher's stone.^[2][5][3]
2. (New Latin, pharmacy) An elixir, a medicine.^[1]

Related words

• English elixir

Usage notes

Variants include elixer, alixir and elixirium.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de