Intoxicate
/ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪt/noun
To make someone lose control of their faculties, typically through the consumption of alcohol or drugs.
Did you know?The term 'intoxicate' comes from the Latin 'toxicum', meaning poison, which gives it a chilling connection to the idea of being under the influence of something harmful.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tek-
“To touch, handle, or make an impression.”
Latin
Latin
toxicum
“A poison, derived from 'toxus', meaning bow, indicating something lethal like poison arrows.”
Late Latin
Latin
intoxicare
“To poison, specifically with alcohol or a narcotic.”
Early Modern English
English
intoxicate
“To cause to lose control or senses, particularly through alcohol.”
Modern English
English
intoxicate
“To impair mental or physical faculties by introducing a substance that alters the state of consciousness.”