poison

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   anything that harms or destroys

   the poison of fascism

2. 2
   verb

   administer poison to

   We poisoned our enemies at a wedding feast.

3. 3
   verb

   add poison to

   Their enemies poisoned their drinks in order to kill them.

4. 4
   verb

   kill with poison

   They poisoned their spouse.

5. 5
   verb

   kill by its poison

   This mushrooms can poison

6. 6
   verb

   spoil as if by poison

   poison someone's mind

7. 7
   noun

   A substance that is harmful or lethal to a living organism when ingested.

   Near-synonym: (loosely) venom

8. 8
   noun

   Anything harmful to a person or thing.

   Gossip is a malicious poison.

Etymology

From Middle English poysoun, poyson, pusoun, from Old French poison, poisun, from Latin pōtiōnem (“drink, a draught, a poisonous draught, a potion”), from pōtō (“to drink”). See also potion and potable (from the same root). Mostly displaced native Old English ātor. See more at atter.