toxic

English

/ˈtɒk.sɪk/, /ˈtɑk.sɪk/

adj
Definitions
  • (toxicology) Having a chemical nature that is harmful to health or lethal if consumed or otherwise entering into the body in sufficient quantities.
  • (medicine) Appearing grossly unwell; characterised by serious, potentially life-threatening compromise in the respiratory, circulatory or other body systems.
  • (figurative) Severely negative or harmful.
  • (figurative) Hateful or strongly antipathetic.

Etymology

Borrowed from French toxique derived from Latin toxicus (poisonous, toxic, poisoned), toxicum (poison, arrow poison) derived from Ancient Greek τοξικόν (arrow poison, poison for arrows).

Origin

Ancient Greek

τοξικόν

Gloss

arrow poison, poison for arrows

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms