Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Poison
(1,294 words)

1. Concept

The term toxicology, today denoting the study of poison and its effects as part of pharmacology, is derived from the Greek tóxikon (poison for use on arrows, from tóxon, “bow”). The Latin venenum and potio ([medical, magical, or lethal] drink) gave rise to the French venin and poison and the English “venom” and “poison.” The German Gift was formerly synonymous with the English “gift,” including a sense of “poison” (as a “[given] do…

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Wahrig, Bettina, “Poison”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 01 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_020251>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20200721



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