I. ˈpȯi-z ə n noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French poisun drink, potion, poison, from Latin potion-, potio drink — more at potion
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : a substance that through its chemical action usually kills, injures, or impairs an organism
b.
(1) : something destructive or harmful
(2) : an object of aversion or abhorrence
2. : a substance that inhibits the activity of another substance or the course of a reaction or process
a catalyst poison
II. transitive verb
( poi·soned ; poi·son·ing ˈpȯiz-niŋ, ˈpȯi-z ə n-iŋ)
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : to injure or kill with poison
b. : to treat, taint, or impregnate with or as if with poison
2. : to exert a baneful influence on : corrupt
poison ed their minds
3. : to inhibit the activity, course, or occurrence of
on the night when he poison ed my rest — Charles Dickens
• poi·son·er ˈpȯiz-nər, ˈpȯi-z ə n-ər noun
III. adjective
Date: circa 1520
1. : poisonous , venomous
a poison plant
a poison tongue
2. : impregnated with poison : poisoned
a poison arrow