Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » intoxicate

intoxicate

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

(in täk′si kāt′)

transitive verb intoxicated, intoxicating

to affect the nervous system of, so as to cause a loss of control; make drunk; stupefy; inebriate: said of alcoholic liquor or a drug
to excite to a point beyond self-control; make wild with excitement or happiness
Med. to poison or have a poisonous effect on

Origin: < ML intoxicatus, pp. of intoxicare, to poison, drug < L in-, in + toxicare, to smear with poison < toxicum, poison: see toxic

See intoxicate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb in·tox·i·cat·ed, in·tox·i·cat·ing, in·tox·i·cates

verb, transitive

To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol.
To stimulate or excite: “a man whom life intoxicates, who has no need of wine” (Anaïs Nin).
To poison.

verb, intransitive

To cause stupefaction, stimulation, or excitement by or as if by use of a chemical substance: “The notion of Holy War is showing that it has not yet lost all its power to intoxicate and to inflame” (Conor Cruise O'Brien).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, to poison

Origin: , from Medieval Latin intoxicāre, intoxicāt-

Origin: : Latin in-, in; see in-²

Origin: + Late Latin toxicāre, to smear with poison (from Latin toxicum, poison; see toxic)

Related Forms: