Obs. [ad. med.L. venēnōsitas: see prec. and -OSITY. So It. venenosità, Sp. venenosidad, older F. venenosité (Paré).] Poisonous quality or property.
1539. Elyot, Cast. Helthe (1541), 56 b. Men have nede to beware, what medycines they receyve, that in them be no venenositie, malyce, or corruption.
1574. Newton, Health Mag., 24. Notwithstanding this their venenositie attributed to them by Avicen,… I woulde not willinglie refuse them for sustentation.
1638. A. Read, Chirurg., xv. 109. Poysonable spirits … may be mingled with metals, so that they may participate of their venenositie.
1665. G. Harvey, Adv. agst. Plague, 14. We should continually fortifie our spirits with internal Antidotes, to expell those Venenosities, as fast as they croud in.
a. 1691. Boyle, Wks. (1772), IV. 318. The venenosity they suspect in that corrosive menstruum.
