Alexipharmic
/ˌælɪk.sɪˈfɑːr.mɪk/noun
Relating to a substance that counteracts or prevents the effects of poison.
Did you know?The word joins Greek aléxein, “to ward off,” with phármakon, a word meaning either “drug” or “poison,” revealing how closely medicine and venom were once conceptually linked.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*alek-
“To ward off, protect, or defend”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀλέξειν (aléxein)
“To ward off or defend”
Ancient Greek
Greek
φάρμακον (phármakon)
“A drug, remedy, or poison”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀλεξιφάρμακον (alexiphármakon)
“A substance used to ward off poison”
17th Century
English
alexipharmic
“Counteracting poison or protecting against its effects”
Modern English
English
alexipharmic
“Antidotal; effective against poison”