treacle
/ˈtɹiː.kəl/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.48 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A syrupy byproduct of sugar refining; molasses or golden syrup.
British usage; Countable; Uncountable
noun
Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.
Countable; Obsolete; Uncountable
noun
Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.
Countable; Obsolete; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Didn’t you see how the cub was ashamed of the thick bread-and-butter? I dare say they’re going to have treacle if they are good."
- "The public tributes to Griffith were over-the-top in a way his acting never was, spreading treacle from the evening newscasts to the front page of the New York Times."
- "Listen, treacle, this is the last time I'll warn you!"
- "CHEWING-BALLS, a kind of balls made of aſafœtida, liver of antimony, bay-wood, juniper-wood, and pellitory of Spain; which being dried in the ſun, and wrapped in a linen-cloth, are tied to the bit of the bridle for the horſe to chew: they create an appetite; and it is ſaid, that balls of Venice treacle may be uſed in the ſame manner with good ſucceſs."
Etymology
From Middle English triacle, partly from Old French triacle, and partly from Old English tyriaca, both from Late Latin *triaca, *tiriaca, late form of theriaca, ultimately from Ancient Greek θηριακή (thēriakḗ, “antidote”), feminine form of θηριακός (thēriakós, “concerning venomous beasts”), from θήρ (thḗr, “beast”). Doublet of theriacle, equivalent to theriac + -le.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈtɹiː.kəl/
- British English: /ˈtɹiː.kəl/