Intoxicate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪt/

Definitions

  1. to make someone drunk or affect their mental state with a substance | to excite or delight someone greatly
  2. to poison or stupefy someone with alcohol or drugs, or to thrill and captivate them intensely
  3. to render someone inebriated or mentally impaired through chemical substances, or to fill them with excitement and joy

Etymology: The verb in question traces back to the Latin verb "intoxicare," which means "to poison" or "to stupefy." This Latin root itself combines the prefix "in-" meaning "into" or "upon," with "toxicum," meaning "poison," derived from the Greek "toxikon," originally referring to "poison for arrows." The Greek term relates to "toxon," meaning "bow," since poisons were applied to arrow tips for hunting or warfare. Over time, "intoxicare" came to mean causing a state of stupor or drunkenness by introducing a poison-like substance into the body. The word entered English in the late 16th century, initially carrying the sense of poisoning or stupefying someone, often with alcohol or narcotics. Early English usage emphasized the physical effect of a substance that impairs normal functioning, especially through alcohol consumption. This aligns with the older meanings tied to actual toxins, as alcohol in excess was viewed as a form of poison. By the 17th century, the term broadened in English to include any state of being mentally or emotionally overwhelmed, extending beyond literal poisoning to encompass intoxication with joy, passion, or enthusiasm. This figurative use reflects a shift from purely physical impairment to metaphorical states of exaltation or delirium, showing how the word’s reach expanded from the realm of medicine and chemistry into the abstract emotional and psychological domains. The modern pronunciation, /ɪnˈtɒksɪkeɪt/, retains the original Latin-derived stress pattern, and the term remains closely connected to substances causing inebriation or altered states of consciousness. Its journey from describing an arrow's poison to encompassing both physical and metaphorical states illustrates how language evolves to accommodate complex human experiences related to intoxication.

Synonyms: inebriate, exhilarate, stimulate, excite, delight

Antonyms: sober, calm, depress, dull, weaken