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.
| 1528 Paynel 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. 1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) A ij, Mithridates invented the famous medicine ageynst poyson, callid Mithridate. 1593 S. 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.]. 1605 Timme Quersit. iii. 177 Take of.. the treacles of mythridate, and the confection of hiacinth, of each 2 ounces. 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farm 387 Some make a soueraigne mithridate against the plague..with two old walnuts, three figges [etc.]. 1686 D'Urfey Commonw. Wom. v. ii. 47 Fools may talk of Mythridate, Cordials, Elixers. 1758 R. Brown Compl. Farmer (1759) 96 Anoint it with some honey or mithridate. 1802 Gifford tr. Juvenal vi. 959 Yet, if the husband, prescient of his fate, Have fortified his breast with mithridate. 1825 Scott Betrothed xvii, Their rash recipes, their mithridate,..their amulets, and their charms. |
| attrib. 1694 Salmon Bate's Dispens. (1713) 591/2 The Mithridate Julep against Fits of the Mother. |
b. transf. and
fig.| 1592 Lyly 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. 1597 Tofte Laura iii. xii, Cordiall of hart, right Methridate of loue. 1622 in Naworth Househ. Bks. (Surtees) 458 Y⊇ l're..was medridate to his hart. 1632 Massinger Maid of Hon. iv. iv, In this breach of faith My loyalty findes reward! what poysons him Proves Mithridate to me! 1812 Southey 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.
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. xix. (1633) 261 Mithridate Mustard..the roote is long and slender. 1731 Miller Gard. Dict., Thlaspi,..Mithridate Mustard. Ibid., Thlaspidium,..Bastard Mithridate Mustard. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 319 Mithridate Mustard, Bastard, Iberis. 1780 J. T. Dillon Trav. Spain (1781) 392 A high mountain covered with mithridate. 1855 Miss Pratt Flower. Pl. I. 87 Thlaspi arvense (Mithridate Mustard, or Penny-cress). |