poisonous
UK: ˈpɔɪzənəs | US: ˈpɔɪzənəs
adj. containing or producing poison; capable of causing harm or death
adj. extremely harmful or malicious in influence or effect
poisonous = poison<toxic substance> + ous<adjective suffix>
- poison: From Old French puisun, derived from Latin potio (a drink, potion), originally referring to a medicinal or magical drink, later narrowing to "deadly drink."
- ous: A suffix forming adjectives, from Latin -osus, indicating "full of" or "having the quality of."
Etymology Origin:
The word poisonous traces back to the Latin potio (a drink), reflecting its early association with liquid toxins. Over time, poison expanded to include any harmful substance, while the suffix -ous solidified its adjectival form, meaning "full of poison." This evolution mirrors societal awareness of toxicity, shifting from literal poisoned drinks to broader metaphorical harm.
The snake's bite is highly poisonous and requires immediate treatment.
Some mushrooms look edible but are actually poisonous.
The factory was fined for releasing poisonous chemicals into the river.
Her words had a poisonous effect on their friendship.
The atmosphere in the room grew poisonous with resentment.