elixir

 
Pronunciation: /ɪˈlɪksə, -sɪə/

noun

  • 1a magical or medicinal potion: an elixir guaranteed to induce love
  • a preparation supposedly able to change metals into gold, sought by alchemists.
  • (also elixir of life) a preparation supposedly able to prolong life indefinitely: figurative he finds world train travel something of an elixir of life
  • 2a particular type of medicinal solution: a cough elixir

Origin:

late Middle English: via medieval Latin from Arabic al-'iksīr, from al 'the' + 'iksīr from Greek xērion 'powder for drying wounds' (from xēros 'dry')