intoxicate — to make someone drunk or under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make someone drunk or under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪnˈtɑːksɪkeɪt/
Example Sentences
- The beautiful music intoxicated the audience, making them forget all their worries.
- My grandmother's cooking is so good it could intoxicate a food critic into writing poetry.
- The police arrested the driver who was clearly intoxicated.
intoxicate
VERB[/ɪnˈtɑːksɪkeɪt/]
to make someone drunk or under the influence of alcohol or drugs
a person sits at the bar holding a glass while swaying slightly in their chair. Their eyes appear glazed and unfocused as they struggle to maintain balance. The bartender behind the counter watches with concern as empty glasses accumulate nearby. The person's coordination becomes visibly impaired as they reach unsteadily for their drink. Other patrons at nearby tables notice the person's increasingly unsteady behavior. someone becoming drunk and under the influence of alcohol
Too intoxicated to communicate, time to educate!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Medieval Latin 'intoxicare', originally meaning 'to poison an arrow' or 'to poison'. It combines 'in-' (into) and 'toxicum' (poison), literally referring to the act of introducing poison into the body. The sense gradually evolved from physical poisoning to describe the effects of alcohol, meaning 'to make drunk'.
Breakdown
in- (into, within) + toxic (poison, from Latin toxicum) + -ate (verb-forming suffix). The morphemes combine to express the action of introducing a toxic substance into the body, later applied metaphorically to alcohol's intoxicating effects.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The beautiful music intoxicated the audience, making them forget all their worries.”
“My grandmother's cooking is so good it could intoxicate a food critic into writing poetry.”
“The police arrested the driver who was clearly intoxicated.”
“Shopping sales intoxicate my wife more than any expensive wine ever could.”
📚Related Words
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