emetic, a. and n.
(ɪˈmɛtɪk)
Also 7–8 emetick, (7 hemettick).
[ad. Gr. ἐµετικ-ός provoking vomiting, f. ἐµέ-ειν to vomit.]
A. adj.
1. Having power to produce vomiting. Also fig. sickening, mawkish.
| 1670 W. Simpson Hydrol. Ess. 47 Why these should not be Emetick. 1770 R. Baker Remarks Eng. Lang. (1779) 8 Richardson..in his emetic history of Pamela. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 460 The waters when drank, operate..as emetic. 1838 T. Thomson Chem. Org. Bodies 74 It possesses emetic qualities. |
2. In phraseological combinations:
emetic cup,
goblet (
cf. antimonial a. 1);
emetic root,
Euphorbia corollata;
emetic tartar, (now usually)
tartar-emetic [
mod.L.
tartarus emeticus], potassio-antimonious tartrate, C
4H
4(NH
4)(SbO)O
6·½H
2O;
emetic weed,
Lobelia inflata;
emetic wine = antimonial wine.
| 1679 tr. Apol. Mdm. Manchini 14 The Hemettick Wine..quickly brought her to her Grave. 1789 A. Crawford in Med. Commun. II. 305 A quarter of a grain of emetic tartar. 1720 Lond. Gaz. No. 5884/1 Emetick Wine. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 108 Emetic Tartar..ought to be employed pure. 1877 Watts Dict. Chem. V. 685 A compound of tartar-emetic and cream of tartar. |
B. n. A medicine that excites vomiting.
| 1657 G. Starkey Helmont's Vind. 194 Vomitories..they likewise call by a Greek name, Emeticks. 1788 Ld. Auckland Diary in Corr. (1861) II. 94 To take an emetic together. 1819 Byron Juan ii. xxi, The sea acted as a strong emetic. 1875 H. Wood Therap. (1879) 426 Emetics are..employed..for the purpose of producing..vomiting. |
| transf. 1823 Byron Juan viii. xii, Three hundred cannon threw up their emetic. |