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   poi·son

   /ˈpoizn/

   noun

   • 1. a substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism when introduced or absorbed: "he killed himself with poison" Similar toxinvenomarchaic:banerare:toxicant
   • ▪ something that has a destructive or corrupting influence: "meanwhile he is spreading his poison over the internet" Similar malicemaliciousnessill willhatemalevolencemalignitymalignancybalefulnessembittermentembitterednessspitespitefulnessvenomacrimonyacrimoniousnessrancorbad influenceblightbanecontagioncancercankercorruptionpollution
   • 2. a substance that reduces the activity of a catalyst.
   • ▪ an additive or impurity in a nuclear reactor that slows a reaction by absorbing neutrons.

   verb

   • 1. administer poison to (a person or animal), either deliberately or accidentally: "someone had tried to poison me" Similar administer poison togive poison tomurder
   • ▪ adulterate or contaminate with poison: "he claimed the guards had poisoned his food" Similar contaminateput poison inadulteratetamper withspikelacedoctorpollutecontaminatetaintfoulbefouldirtyblightspoil
   • ▪ smear (a weapon or missile) with poison: "hunters would use the sap of monkshood to poison their spears"
   • ▪ prove harmful or destructive to: "the bombings poisoned the political atmosphere and deepened the social divide" Similar prejudicebiasjaundicecolorembittersourenvenomwarpcorruptsubvert
   • 2. (of a substance) reduce the activity of (a catalyst).

   Word Origin Middle English (denoting a harmful medicinal draft): from Old French poison ‘magic potion’, from Latin potio(n-) ‘potion’, related to potare ‘to drink’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. poisoner noun

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • P

     3

   • O

     1

   • I

     1

   • S

     1

   • O

     1

   • N

     1

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