electuary

From Middle English electuarie, eletuarie, electuary, from Latin electuarium, from Ancient Greek ἐκλείκτον (ekleíkton, “medicine which is licked away”), from ἐκλείχω (ekleíkhō, “I lick up”), from ἐκ (ek, “out, from”) + λείχω (leíkhō, “I lick”). Doublet of lekvar.

electuary (plural electuaries)

1. (pharmacology) Any preparation of a medicine mixed with honey or other sweetener in order to make it more palatable to swallow.
   • 1624, Philip Barrough [i.e., Philip Barrow], “Of Electuaries, and Conserues: of Lozenges, and Manus Christi”, in The Method of Physick, Contaning^[sic] the Cavses, Signes, and Cvres of Inward Diseases in Mans Body, from the Head to the Foote. Whereunto is Added, The Forme and Rule of Making Remedies and Medicines, which Our Physitions Commonly Vse at this Day, with the Proportion, Quantity, and Names of Each Medicine, 6th edition, book VII, London: Imprinted by Richard Field, dwelling in great Woodstreete, →OCLC, page 402:

     ℞. the three kinds of Saunders, and Diarrhodon Abbatis, ana. ℈. j. the bone of the Harts heart one in number, Sugar roſate tabulate, of white Sugar diſſolued in Roſe water as much as ſufficeth, make an Electuarie, gild it with leaues of pure gold in weight, ℥. ß.

   • 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 14:

     In the desperate search for amatory satisfactions, the most monstrous ingredients have throughout the ages, been sought and compounded into electuaries and pastilles, philtres and ointments.

• ectylurea