toxic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Poisonous; harmful or deadly if it gets into the body.

   Tobacco smoke contains many toxic substances.

2. 2
   adj

   Very harmful or unpleasant to be around.

   He finally left his toxic workplace.

3. 3
   adj

   Of a person, hateful or extremely unpleasant.

   It is best to stay away from toxic people.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Toxic comes from medieval Latin toxicus, meaning “poisoned.” This derives from Greek toxikon pharmakon, “poison for arrows,” based on toxon, “bow.”

Etymology tree Ancient Greek τόξον (tóxon) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek τοξῐκός (toxĭkós) Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón)der. Latin toxicum Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Italic *-kos Latin -cus Latin toxicusbor. French toxiquebor. English toxic Borrowed from French toxique, from Late Latin toxicus (“poisoned”), from Latin toxicum (“poison”), from Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón) [φάρμακον (phármakon)] ("poison for use on arrows"), from τοξικός (toxikós, “pertaining to arrows or archery”), from τόξον (tóxon, “bow”).

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary