an ointment or potion of varying composition, used as an antidote to a poison
Word origin
C14: from Latin thēriaca antidote to poison
theriac in American English
(ˈθɪəriˌæk)
noun
1.
molasses; treacle
2.
a paste formerly used as an antidote to poison, esp. snake venom, made from 60 or 70 different drugs pulverized and mixed with honey
Also: theriaca
Derived forms
theriacal
adjective
Word origin
[bef. 1000; ‹ L thēriaca antidote to poison ‹ Gk thēriake᷄, fem. of thēriakós, equiv. to thērí(on) wild beast + -akos-ac; r. ME tiriake, OE tȳriaca ‹ ML, var. of thēriaca]