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mithridate|ˈmɪθrɪdeɪt|
Also 6 mith-, methridat, mithrydate, mitridat, 6–7 metridat(e, methridate, 7 mythridate, methredate, mithrydat, mitridate, medridate.
[a. med.L. mithridātum, altered from late L. mithridātīum, orig. neut. of Mithridātīus, -ēus adj., pertaining to Mithridates (see below, sense 1 note), f. L. Mithri-, Mithradātēs, Gr. Μιθρι-, Μιθραδᾱ́της. Cf. OF. metridat (mod.F. mithridate), Sp., It. mitridato, Pg. mithridato.]
1. Old Pharmacy. A composition of many ingredients in the form of an electuary, regarded as a universal antidote or preservative against poison and infectious disease. Hence, any medicine to which similar powers were ascribed.
So called from Mithridates VI, king of Pontus (died c 63 b.c.), who was said to have rendered himself proof against poisons by the constant use of antidotes.
1528Paynel Salerne's Regim. (1541) 33 b, Auicen saythe; There be certeyne medicins..which wyl not suffre poyson to approche nere the harte, as triacle and Metridate. 1533Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) A ij, Mithridates invented the famous medicine ageynst poyson, callid Mithridate. 1593S. Kellwaye Defens. agst. Plague 32 Take a great Onyon, make a hole in the myddle of him, then fill the place with Mitridat or Triacle, and some leaues of Rue, then [etc.]. 1605Timme Quersit. iii. 177 Take of.. the treacles of mythridate, and the confection of hiacinth, of each 2 ounces. 1616Surfl. & Markh. Country Farm 387 Some make a soueraigne mithridate against the plague..with two old walnuts, three figges [etc.]. 1686D'Urfey Commonw. Wom. v. ii. 47 Fools may talk of Mythridate, Cordials, Elixers. 1758R. Brown Compl. Farmer (1759) 96 Anoint it with some honey or mithridate. 1802Gifford tr. Juvenal vi. 959 Yet, if the husband, prescient of his fate, Have fortified his breast with mithridate. 1825Scott Betrothed xvii, Their rash recipes, their mithridate,..their amulets, and their charms.
attrib.1694Salmon Bate's Dispens. (1713) 591/2 The Mithridate Julep against Fits of the Mother.
b. transf. and fig.
1592Lyly Midas iv. iv. 47 That which maketh me most both to sorrow and wonder, is that musick (a methridat for melancholy) should make him mad. 1597Tofte Laura iii. xii, Cordiall of hart, right Methridate of loue. 1622in Naworth Househ. Bks. (Surtees) 458 Y⊇ l're..was medridate to his hart. 1632Massinger Maid of Hon. iv. iv, In this breach of faith My loyalty findes reward! what poysons him Proves Mithridate to me! 1812Southey Ess. (1832) I. 120 Those..whom a sound understanding, and a mind well stored, have fortified, as with mithridate, against such poison. 1834― Doctor lxxvi. (1848) 162 A drop of the true elixir, no mithridate so effectual against the infection of vice.
2. In full mithridate mustard, a name for the plants Lepidium campestre and Thlaspi arvense. Also bastard mithridate mustard: candytuft.
1597Gerarde Herbal ii. xix. (1633) 261 Mithridate Mustard..the roote is long and slender. 1731Miller Gard. Dict., Thlaspi,..Mithridate Mustard. Ibid., Thlaspidium,..Bastard Mithridate Mustard. 1760J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 319 Mithridate Mustard, Bastard, Iberis. 1780J. T. Dillon Trav. Spain (1781) 392 A high mountain covered with mithridate. 1855Miss Pratt Flower. Pl. I. 87 Thlaspi arvense (Mithridate Mustard, or Penny-cress). |