elixir English · revision 2456

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ɪˈlɪksə/ ''(UK)''; /ɪˈlɪksɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|elixir]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la-med|elixir]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|ar|الإكسير|tr=al-iksīr|t=the elixir]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[af|ar|ال|إكسير|tr1=al|tr2=iksīr|t1=the|t2=elixir, philosopher's stone]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) probably [[der|grc|ξήριον|tr=xḗrion|t=powder for drying wounds]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''xērós'' “dry”.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In alchemy, a preparation sought to change base metals into gold, often identified with the philosopher's stone (late 14th century).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Alchemists also imagined an elixir that would prolong life indefinitely;^(OED 1989)^(AHD) the OED's earliest quotation for this sense dates from 1266, and Etymonline dates the word to the mid-13th century.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) From this the word came to mean a remedy for all ills, and from the 1630s the name of quack medicines.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) In pharmacy it named a strong tincture (1597) and later a sweetened alcoholic solution used to carry medicines.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) Figuratively it has meant the essence or secret principle of a thing (1638; before 1500 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1266 – a drug supposed to prolong life indefinitely (in the OED).^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1386 – an alchemical preparation for turning metals into gold.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1597 – a strong extract or tincture.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1631 – a sovereign remedy; a quack medicine.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1638 – the quintessence of a thing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1736 – in pharmacy, a medicinal preparation.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sweetened solution of alcohol and water used as a vehicle for medicine.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A substance believed to prolong life indefinitely.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A supposed cure for all ills; a panacea.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The alchemists' philosopher's stone, thought to turn base metals into gold.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The essential principle of something.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alchemy]]

+ * [[panacea]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}