Definition of intoxicate

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< intoxicant

intoxication >

in·tox·i·cate    (n-tks-kt) KEY 

VERB:
in·tox·i·cat·ed, in·tox·i·cat·ing, in·tox·i·cates
VERB:
tr.

1. To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol.
2. To stimulate or excite: "a man whom life intoxicates, who has no need of wine" (Anaïs Nin).
3. To poison.

VERB:
intr.

To cause stupefaction, stimulation, or excitement by or as if by use of a chemical substance: "The notion of Holy War is showing that it has not yet lost all its power to intoxicate and to inflame" (Conor Cruise O'Brien).

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, to poison, from Medieval Latin intoxicre, intoxict- : Latin in-, in ; see in-² + Late Latin toxicre, to smear with poison (from Latin toxicum, poison; see toxic)

OTHER FORMS:
in·toxi·cating·ly(Adverb), in·toxi·cative(Adjective), in·toxi·cator(Noun)