Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “elixir” come from?

Elixir comes from Medieval Latin elixir, from Arabic إكسير, from Ancient Greek ξηρίον, from Ancient Greek ξηρός meaning dry, from Proto-Indo-European kseros.

elixir (English): A liquid which converts lead to gold; A substance...

Definitions

  1. A liquid which converts lead to gold; A substance...

Ancestry of “elixir”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Medieval Latinelixir—
2Arabicإكسيرelixir
3Classical Syriacܟܣܝܪܝܢ—
4Ancient Greekξηρίονa desiccative powder for wounds
5Ancient Greekξηρόςdry; The effects of being without water: parched,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeankseros—

Words derived from “elixir”

  • elixirlike
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kseros →