▪ I. potion, n.
(ˈpəʊʃən)
Forms: 4–6 pocion, 5 -oun, (Sc. poycion), 5–6 pocyon, 6 potioun, 6– potion.
[a. OF. pocion, potion (12–13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), mod.F. potion, ad. L. pōtiō-nem a drinking, draught, potion, philtre, vbl. n. f. pōtāre, pōt-um to drink.]
1. A dose of liquid medicine or of poison; a draught: see draught n. 15.
| 13.. K. Alis. 3509 (Bodl. MS.) He dude hym bere to pavylouns, And sauid hym wiþ pociouns. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints vi. (Thomas) 481 It is lyk to poycion men takis fore purgacione. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) III. 411 He hade diede anoon, but that he receyvede a pocion of Philippe his phisicion. 1548–77 Vicary Anat. i. (1888) 13 If a man may be cured with Dyet and Pocion, let there not be ministred any Chirurgerie. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. v. iii. 244 Then gaue I her..A sleeping Potion, which so tooke effect As I intended. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 370 Bewitched by sorcerie and amorous potions. 1732 T. Lediard Sethos II. vii. 84 To discern the innocent..by trials of fire and potions. 1848 A. Jameson Sacr. & Leg. Art (1850) 435 Neither potions nor physicians can do more than postpone the evil hour. |
| fig. 1577 tr. Luther's Comm. Gal. iv. 95 He goeth about to qualify and mitigate his bitter Potion. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, i. ii. 145 Your Lordship may minister the Potion of imprisonment to me. 1631 Heywood Eng. Eliz. (1641) 108 The bitter potion of indignity. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 140 To administer the opiate potion of amnesty. |
† 2. a. A portion of drink; a drink, a draught. b. A kind of drink; a beverage. Obs. rare.
| 1526 Aberdeen Regr. (1844) I. 115 Inprimis to the justice ane potioun of wyne; item to my lord chancellar, ane potioun of wyne. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 150 They [Persians] vse another potion, faire water, juice of Lemmons, Sugar, and Roses. |
3. Comb., as potion-monger.
| 1894 H. A. Jones in Daily News 7 May 6/5 The family friend, rather than the doser and potion-monger. |
▪ II. potion, v.
(ˈpəʊʃən)
[f. prec. n. Cf. L. pōtiōnāre to give to drink, f. pōtiōn-em drinking.]
trans. To treat or dose with potions; to drug.
| 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xi. §49 Hauing corrupted his Keepers, or..hauing potioned them with a sleepy drinke, [he] escaped out of the Tower of London. 1768 Foote Devil on 2 Sticks iii. Wks. 1799 II. 275 Full power..to pill, bolus, lotion, potion,..and poultice, all persons. 1812 L. Hunt in Examiner 25 May 321/1 Puff'd and potion'd up like any bladder. |