Etymologically
Log in

elixir

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 24 October 2026 at 05:57. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɛˈlɪk.sɪr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [eˈlik.sir][1]

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]

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