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Added 8 October 2026

poison

/ˈpɔɪ.zən/ noun

In Latin: venēnum, toxicum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about poison at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Any substance that causes injury or illness or death of a living organism.
Anything that harms or destroys.
the poison of fascism

verb

Spoil as if by poison.
poison someone's mind
Kill with poison.
She poisoned her husband
Add poison to.
Her husband poisoned her drink in order to kill her

Origin

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 and lybb. See more at atter.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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