elixir

See also elixír, and élixir

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin elixir, from Arabic الإكسير (al-’iksīr), from Ancient Greek ξήριον (“medicinal powder”), from ξηρός (“dry”).

Pronunciation

IPA: /ɪˈlɪksə/

Noun

elixir (plural elixirs)

(alchemy) A liquid which converts lead to gold.
- 2002, Philip Ball, The Elements: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford 2004, p. 59:
  For Chinese alchemists, gold held the key to the Elixir, the Eastern equivalent of the Philosopher's Stone.
A liquid which is believed to cure all ills and gives eternal life.
(pharmacy) A sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste.

Derived terms

elixir of life

Translations

alchemy: liquid which was believed to turn non-precious metals to gold

Catalan: elixir (ca) m
Chinese:
Mandarin: trad. 鍊金藥, simpl. 炼金药 (liàn jīng yào)
Danish: eliksir (da) c
Finnish: eliksiiri (fi)
Georgian: ელექსირი (ka) (elek'siri)
German: Elixier (de) n

Greek: ελιξίριο (el) (elixírio) n
Hungarian: elixír (hu)
Italian: elisir (it) m
Japanese: エリクサー (ja) (erikusā)
Portuguese: elixir (pt) m
Russian: эликсир (ru) (eliksír) m
Turkish: eliksir (tr)

liquid which is believed to cure all ills

Chinese:
Mandarin: trad. 萬能藥, simpl. 万能药 (wàn néng yào)
Danish: eliksir (da) c
Finnish: eliksiiri (fi)
Georgian: ელექსირი (ka) (elek'siri)
German: Elixier (de) n, Zaubertrunk (de) m, Heilmittel (de) n
Greek: ελιξίριο (el) (elixírio) n

Hungarian: elixír (hu)
Italian: elisir (it) m
Japanese: 万能薬 (ja) (bannōyaku)
Persian: اکسیر (fa) (eksir)
Russian: эликсир (ru) (eliksír) m, панацея (ru) (panacéja) f
Scottish Gaelic: brìgh (gd) f, ìocshlaint (gd) f
Turkish: eliksir (tr)

pharmacy: sweet taste-masking liquid

Danish: eliksir (da) c
Finnish: eliksiiri (fi)
French: élixir (fr) m
Georgian: ელექსირი (ka) (elek'siri)
German: Elixier (de) n, Heilmittel (de) n

Greek: ελιξίριο (el) (elixírio) n
Italian: elisir (it) m
Japanese: エリクシル (ja) (erikushiru), エリキシル (ja) (erikishiru)
Russian: эликсир (ru) (eliksír) m
Turkish: eliksir (tr)

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Translations to be checked