elixir Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a sweet flavored liquid (usually containing a small amount of alcohol) used in compounding medicines to be taken by mouth in order to mask an unpleasant taste
  2. noun hypothetical substance that the alchemists believed to be capable of changing base metals into gold
    philosophers' stone; philosopher's stone.
  3. noun a substance believed to cure all ills

WordNet

E*lix"ir noun
Etymology
F. élixir, Sp. elixir, Ar. eliksir the philosopher's stone, prob. from Gr. dry, (hence probably) a dry powder; cf. Skr. ksha to burn.
Definitions
  1. (Med.) A tincture with more than one base; a compound tincture or medicine, composed of various substances, held in solution by alcohol in some form.
  2. (Alchemy) An imaginary liquor capable of transmuting metals into gold; also, one for producing life indefinitely; as, elixir vitæ, or the elixir of life.
  3. The refined spirit; the quintessence.
    The . . . elixir of worldly delights. South.
  4. Any cordial or substance which invigorates.
    The grand elixir, to support the spirits of human nature. Addison.

Webster 1913