Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “antidote” come from?

Antidote derives from Latin antidotum, from Ancient Greek ἀντίδοτον, formed from ἀντί meaning against and the root of διδόναι meaning to give.

antidote (English): A remedy to counteract the effects of poison;...

Definitions

  1. A remedy to counteract the effects of poison;...

Ancestry of “antidote”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinantidotum—
2Ancient Greekἀντίδοτοςgiven as a remedy for
3Ancient GreekἀντιδίδωμιI give in return, repay
4Ancient Greekᾰ̓ντῐ-before, against; like; against

Words derived from “antidote”

  • antidotal
  • antidot
  • thermantidote
  • antidotary
  • antidotally
Every word from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓ντῐ- →