Elixir

Origin

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic al-iksīr the elixir, from al the + iksīr elixir, probably from Greek xērion desiccative powder, from xēros dry

• 14th Century

Definitions

• 1a (1) : a substance held capable of changing base metals into gold (2) : a substance held capable of prolonging life indefinitely

b (1) : cure-all (2) : a medicinal concoction

• 2: a sweetened liquid usually containing alcohol that is used in medication either for its medicinal ingredients or as a flavoring
• 3: the essential principle

Description

An elixir (Arabic: الإكسير, Al-Ikseer, effective recipe‎, Greek: ξήριον, medical powder, xerion "powder for drying wounds", from ξηρός, xeros dry) is a clear, sweet-flavored liquid used for medicinal purposes, to be taken orally and intended to cure one's ills. When used as a pharmaceutical preparation, an elixir contains at least one active ingredient designed to be taken orally.[1]