concoction
nounUK /kənˈkɒkʃən/ · US /kənˈkɑkʃən/
Etymology From Latin concoctiō.
7 senses
1
The preparing of a medicine, food or other substance out of many ingredients.
- Salt is a very favoured ingredient of spell-binding concoctions.1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 178:
- Deer Sperm: In ancient times, this was used as an ingredient on aphrodisiac concoctions. An example of organotherapy.1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 74:
2
A mixture prepared in such a way.
- Years later, she had found out about the Voodoo drink - a concoction of rum, gunpowder, grave-dirt and human blood. She almost retched as the taste came back to her mouth.1954, Ian Fleming, “Allumeuse”, in Live and Let Die, London: Pan Books, published 1957, page 109:
3
Figuratively Something made up, an invention.
4
Obsolete Digestion (of food etc.).
- [Sorrow] hinders concoction, refrigerates the heart, takes away stomach, colour, and sleep; thickens the blood […]1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:
5
Figuratively, Obsolete The act of digesting in the mind; rumination.
- At laſt, the Phyſicians, after a long and ſtormie voyage, ſee land; They haue ſo good ſignes of the concoction of the diſeaſe, as that they may ſafely proceed to purge.1624, John Donne, Deuotions upon Emergent Occasions, and Seuerall Steps in My Sicknes: […], London: […] A[ugustine] M[atthews] for Thomas Iones, →OCLC, pages 469–470:
7
Obsolete The act of perfecting or maturing.
- There are also divers other great alterations of matter and bodies , besides those that tend to concoction and maturation1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “IX. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
- Derived terms
- inconcoction, reconcoction