elixir

What it means

1. alchemyA liquid which converts lead to gold.

   For Chinese alchemists, gold held the key to the Elixir, the Eastern equivalent of the Philosopher's Stone.

   2002, Philip Ball, The Elements: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, published 2004, page 59

2. alchemyA substance or liquid which is believed to cure all ills and give eternal life.
3. broadlyThe alleged cure for all ailments; cure-all, panacea.

   The silver-bullet cancer cures of yesterday’s newsmagazine covers, like interferon and angiogenesis inhibitors, disappointed the breathless expectations, as have elixirs such as antioxidants, Vioxx, and hormone replacement therapy.

   2015 August 1, Steven Pinker, “The moral imperative for bioethics”, in The Boston Globe, archived from the original on 03 Dec 2015

In a sentence

For Chinese alchemists, gold held the key to the Elixir, the Eastern equivalent of the Philosopher's Stone.

2002, Philip Ball, The Elements: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford, published 2004, page 59

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekξηρίον“powder for drying wounds”
2. Arabicاَلْإِكْسِير“philosopher's stone”
3. Medieval Latinelixir“philosopher's stone”
4. Englishelixir

From Medieval Latin elixir (“philosopher's stone”), from Arabic اَلْإِكْسِير (al-ʔiksīr, “philosopher's stone”), from Ancient Greek ξηρίον (xēríon, “powder for drying wounds”), from ξηρός (xērós, “dry”).