alexitery

English

Etymology

From ἀλέξω (aléxō, “to ward off”) + -t +‎ -ery.

Noun

alexitery (plural alexiteries)

1. (archaic) An antidote to poison.
   • 1657, Jean de Renou, A Medicinal Dispensatory, page 189:

     These miserable Wretches are included herein with hot bricks, and almost suffocated, till they sweat abundantly in every part of their bodyes, having before drunk of the Decoction of Lignum sanctum, or Sarsaparilla, or some other Alexitery, which will both move sweat, and deleate the French disease.

   • 1665, Thomas Cock, Plain and Practical Disourse upon the first of Xix Nonnaturals:

     Galen saith, as deleteries they are inimical to nature, especially if the party that wears them be given to much labour, exercise, or motion; neither can I advise such, if any, with hope of good success to use them ; but suppose they be made of alexiteries, then Galen nor any judicious person doth or ever did dispute or question them.

   • 1985, Odell Shepard, Lore of the Unicorn:

     Pare believes that the best "alexitery" is to flee from all poisoners as from the plague--"et les chasser du Royaume de France, et les envoyer avec les Turcs et les autres infideles, ou aux deserts inaccessibles avec les Licornes". He did not consider, perhaps, that this drastic policy would have involved the banishment of his royal mistress.

Adjective

alexitery (comparative more alexitery, superlative most alexitery)

1. Acting as an antidote to poison.
   • 1802, Nicholas Culpeper, Ebenezer Sibly, Culpeper's English Physician and Compelete Herbal, page 5:

     Yet some things attract specifically, and not by a manifest quality : as things that are carthartic or purging, and alexitery, or resisting poison.