The Collaborative International Dictionary
Theriac \The"ri*ac\, Theriaca \The*ri"a*ca\, n. [L. theriaca an antidote against the bite of serpents, Gr. ?: cf. F. th['e]riaque. See Treacle.]
(Old Med.) An ancient composition esteemed efficacious against the effects of poison; especially, a certain compound of sixty-four drugs, prepared, pulverized, and reduced by means of honey to an electuary; -- called also theriaca Andromachi, and Venice treacle.
Treacle; molasses.
--British Pharm.
Treacle \Trea"cle\ (tr[=e]"k'l), n. [OE. triacle a sovereign remedy, theriac, OF. triacle, F. th['e]riaque (cf. Pr. triacla, tiriaca, Sp. & It. triaca, teriaca), L. theriaca an antidote against the bite of poisonous animals, Gr. ?, fr. ? of wild or venomous beasts, fr. qhri`on a beast, a wild beast, dim. of qh`r a beast. Cf. Theriac.]
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(Old Med.) A remedy against poison. See Theriac, 1.
We kill the viper, and make treacle of him.
--Jer. Taylor. -
A sovereign remedy; a cure. [Obs.]
Christ which is to every harm treacle.
--Chaucer. -
Molasses; sometimes, specifically, the molasses which drains from the sugar-refining molds, and which is also called sugarhouse molasses.
Note: In the United States molasses is the common name; in England, treacle.
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A saccharine fluid, consisting of the inspissated juices or decoctions of certain vegetables, as the sap of the birch, sycamore, and the like.
Treacle mustard (Bot.), a name given to several species of the cruciferous genus Erysimum, especially the Erysimum cheiranthoides, which was formerly used as an ingredient in Venice treacle, or theriac.
Treacle water, a compound cordial prepared in different ways from a variety of ingredients, as hartshorn, roots of various plants, flowers, juices of plants, wines, etc., distilled or digested with Venice treacle. It was formerly regarded as a medicine of great virtue.
--Nares.Venice treacle. (Old Med.) Same as Theriac, 1.
Usage examples of "venice treacle".
Mr Giffard and Stephen were fairly well acquainted - well enough, in any case, for Giffard's initial embarrassment to persuade Stephen that this was not an ordinary visit nor a request for the loan of a carboy of Venice treacle or a hundredweight of portable soup and some lint.
To her emergency supplies she had added ginseng drops, most effective in treating the flux, and Venice treacle for childĀ.
Taken with good Venice Treacle, it is good against Plague, driving forth the Malignity by sweat.