sb. (a.) arch. Forms: α. (1 tyriaca); 6– theriaca, 7–8 theriace. β. 5 tiriake, tyriake. γ. 6– theriac, 7 -ack, -aque. See also THERIACLE. [a. late L. thēriaca, thēriacē (med.L. thēriacum), a. Gr. θηριακὴ (ἀντίδοσις), θηριακὸν (φάρμακον), fem. and neut. of θηριακὸς pertaining to wild beasts or poisonous reptiles, f. θηρίον, dim. of θήρ wild beast, poisonous reptile. So F. thériaque (16th c. in Godef.), whence the last γ form; It., Sp. teriaca, Sp. triaca, Pr. tiriaca; MHG. triak, G. theriak, Du. teriaak: see also THERIACLE.] An antidote to poison, esp. to the bite of a venomous serpent; = TREACLE sb. 1.
The flesh of the viper was formerly held to be a necessary ingredient of the antidote to its bite (see quot. 1608); hence many references in the fig. uses of theriac and treacle.
α. [c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., II. 175. Tyriaca is god drenc wiþ innoþ tydernessum. Ibid., 290. Nime þonne ane lytle snæd þæs tyriacan & ʓemenge.]
1562. Bulleyn, Bulwark, Dial. Soarnes & Chir. (1573), 59. Take Theriaca of the making of Andromachus,… which is a Triacle incomperable.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXIX. i. 348. See what account there is made of a composition called Theriace [mispr. Theriall: corrected in list of errata].
1608. Topsell, Serpents (1658), 810. Theriace, or Triacle, not only because it cureth the venomous bitings of Serpents, but also because the Serpents themselves are usually mingled in the making thereof.
1765. Univ. Mag., XXXVII. 237/1. He … took … a large dose of theriaca with wine.
[1811. Hooper, Med. Dict., s.v., Theriaca Andromachi, the Venice or Mithridate treacle…. Theriaca communis, common treacle, or molasses…. Theriaca Londinensis, a cataplasm of cummin seed, bay-berries, germander, snake-root, cloves and honey.]
β. c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., III. 1100. Vyn tiriake [v.r. Vyntariake] is also now to make … The bite of euery best me shal escape. Ibid., 1118. Also tiriake [v.r. Tyriake] Ys good to take and … Heeld on theyr rootes ofte.
γ. 1568. Skeyne, The Pest (1860), 24. One half vnce of guid auld theriac.
1658. Rowland, Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 1005. Oyl of Quinces is commended as the certain Theriack for this disease.
1665–6. Phil. Trans., I. 160. The great number of Vipers, brought to the Grand Duke of Toscany for the composing of Theriac or Treacle.
1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), b ij b. As when the skilful Artist to compose His mighty Theriaque; Weighs the Critick Dose.
1751. Student, II. 344. When the disease was young, it was mitigated with … crabs eyes;… theriac and vinegar.
1862. Beveridge, Hist. India, I. I. v. 108. Tiriak of Khutta, a medicine … then in high repute as an antidote.
1890. Athenæum, 19 April, 496/3. Such tisane or theriac as the science of the time could furnish.
B. adj. = THERIACAL.
c. 1440. Vyn tiriake [= med.L. vīnum tiriacum; see β above].
1857. Dunglison, Med. Lex., s.v. Theriaca, ‘Theriac’ and ‘Theriacal’ have been used adjectively for ‘medicinal.’
