See also: Antidote

English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From Latin antidotum, from Ancient Greek ἀντίδοτος (antídotos, antidote, remedy), from ἀντιδίδωμι (antidídōmi, I give in return, repay), from ἀντί (antí, against) + δίδωμι (dídōmi, I give). Compare French antidote.

Pronunciation edit

  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈæn.tɪ.doʊt/
  • (file)

Noun edit

antidote (plural antidotes)

  1. A remedy to counteract the effects of poison.
    Synonyms: mithridatic, alexipharmic, alexipharmac, alexipharmacum, alexiteric, alexitery, treacle, theriac
    She reached the hospital in time to receive the antidote for the snake venom.
    • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii], page 149, column 2:
      Can'ſt thou not Miniſter to a minde diſeas'd, / Plucke from the Memory a rooted Sorrow, / Raze out the written troubles of the Braine, / And with ſome ſweet Obliuious Antidote / Cleanſe the ſtufft boſome, of that perillous ſtuffe / Which weighes vpon the heart?
    • 2014 December 23, Olivia Judson, “The hemiparasite season”, in The New York Times[1]:
      The druids [] believed that mistletoe could make barren animals fecund, and that it was an antidote to all poisons.
  2. (figurative) Something that counteracts or prevents something harmful.
    Synonym: remedy
    We need an antidote for this misinformation.

Usage notes edit

In reference to the specific poison the antidote is protective against, used with the prepositions against or for or used with an explanatory infinitive verb.

Hyponyms edit

Related terms edit

Descendants edit

  • Malay: antidot

Translations edit

Verb edit

antidote (third-person singular simple present antidotes, present participle antidoting, simple past and past participle antidoted)

  1. (transitive) To counteract as an antidote.
    • 2007, Suzanne C. Lawton, Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, Asperger syndrome: natural steps toward a better life, page 143:
      For his part, the patient must avoid some commonplace substances in order to avoid antidoting or stopping the action of the homeopathic remedy []

Translations edit

See also edit

References edit

Anagrams edit

French edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin antidotum.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

antidote m (plural antidotes)

  1. antidote

Descendants edit

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

Portuguese edit

Verb edit

antidote

  1. inflection of antidotar:
    1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
    2. third-person singular imperative