delirifacientn.adj.
/dᵻˌlɪrᵻˈfeɪʃnt/, /dᵻˌlɪərᵻˈfeɪʃnt/, /dᵻˌlɪrᵻˈfeɪʃɪənt/, /dᵻˌlɪərᵻˈfeɪʃɪənt/, U.S. /dəˌlɪrəˈfeɪʃənt/ Medicine. Now somewhat rare.
A. n.
A drug or other agent that causes delirium. Cf. deliriant n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [noun] > hallucinogenic drug
delirifacient1842
deliriant1858
delirant1872
mind-expander1875
mind-changer1931
phantastica1931
hallucinogen1954
hallucinant1964
utopiate1964
mind-bender1967
1842 J. Pereira Elements Materia Medica (ed. 2) I. 175 Delirifacients which dilate the pupil and paralyse the throat.
1874 H. C. Wood Treat. Therapeutics 187 In some..morphia acts as a delirifacient.
1921 A. J. Clark in M. A. Murray Witch-cult W. Europe App. V. 280 It seems quite possible that the combination of a delirifacient like belladonna with a drug producing irregular action of the heart like aconite might produce the sensation of flying.
1997 G. P. Menser Hallucinogenic & Poisonous Mushroom Field Guide (e-book ed. 3) Muscimol is not a true hallucinogen; it is a delirifacient.
B. adj.
Causing delirium. Cf. deliriant adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > an intoxicating drug > [adjective] > causing hallucinations
mind-expanding1855
delirifacient1883
hallucinogenic1952
mind-bending1952
1883 Ogilvie's Imperial Dict. (new ed.) IV. 698/1 Delirifacient, tending to produce delirium.
1895 Therapeutic Gaz. 16 Dec. 802/2 Belladonnine, atropine,.., duboisine, may be considered identical therapeutically, if not chemically, leaving only hyoscine and cocaine as of special value, the former lacking the delirifacient effect of the others.
1949 Bull. Hist. Med. 23 189 It [sc. mandrake] was both soporific and delirifacient.
1985 C. F. Otten Environ'd with Eternity iv. 77 The delirifacient action of the belladonna alkaloids on the senses produced maddening effects.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1842