Definition of intoxicate
archaic
: intoxicated 1
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1581
First Known Use of intoxicate
1581
Definition of intoxicate
intoxicated
;intoxicating
transitive verb
1 : poison
2a : to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminishedb : to excite or elate to the point of enthusiasm or frenzy
Examples of intoxicate in a Sentence
The little bit of beer I drank was not enough to intoxicate me.
the stunning spectacle of this Las Vegas show is sure to intoxicate spectators
Did You Know?
For those who think that alcohol and drugs qualify as poisons, the history of intoxicate offers some etymological evidence to bolster your argument. Intoxicate traces back to toxicum, the Latin word for "poison" - and the earliest meaning of intoxicate was just that: "to poison." This sense is now extremely rare, and we currently talk about such harmless things as flowers and perfume having the power to intoxicate. Toxicum turns up in the etymologies of a number of other English words including toxic ("poisonous"), intoxicant ("something that intoxicates") and detoxify ("to remove a poison from"), as well as a number of the names for various poisons themselves.
Origin and Etymology of intoxicate
Middle English, from Medieval Latin intoxicatus, past participle of intoxicare, from Latin in- + toxicum poison — more at toxic
First Known Use: 15th century
INTOXICATE Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of intoxicate for English Language Learners
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of alcohol, a drug, etc. : to make (someone) unable to think and behave normally
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: to excite or please (someone) in a way that suggests the effect of alcohol or a drug
INTOXICATE Defined for Kids
intoxicate
playDefinition of intoxicate for Students
intoxicated
;intoxicating
1 : to affect by alcohol or a drug especially so that normal thinking and acting becomes difficult or impossible : make drunk
2 : to make wildly excited or enthusiastic Intoxicated as he was with the heavens, he couldn't imagine needing anything on earth. — Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia
Medical Dictionary
Law Dictionary
intoxicate
playLegal Definition of intoxicate
intoxicated
intoxicating
: to excite or stupefy by alcohol or a drug especially to the point where physical and mental control is markedly diminished — see also driving under the influence
Learn More about intoxicate
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for intoxicate Spanish Central: Translation of intoxicate Nglish: Translation of intoxicate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of intoxicate for Arabic speakers
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