Emetic
/ɪˈmɛtɪk/noun
A substance or medicine that induces vomiting.
Did you know?The Greek verb behind emetic, meaning “to vomit,” is probably connected to an ancient Indo-European sound-root that also produced Latin vomere and English vomit.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wemh₁-
“To vomit; a reconstructed bodily-action root, possibly echoing the sound of retching”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐμέω (emeō)
“I vomit”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἐμετικός (emetikos)
“Causing vomiting; relating to vomiting”
17th Century
Latin
emeticus
“Emetic; inducing vomiting”
17th Century
English
emetic
“A substance used to produce vomiting”
Modern English
English
emetic
“A drug or substance that induces vomiting”
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