Electuaries

/ɪˈlɛktʃuˌɛriz/ noun

Definition

Plural of electuary; medicinal paste-like preparations made by mixing powders with honey, syrup, or other binding agents.

Etymology

From electuary + -ies. Electuary comes from Greek elektuarion. These medicines were common in medieval and Renaissance pharmacy, lasting into the 19th century.

Kelly Says

Electuaries were the gummy vitamins of the medieval world—apothecaries mixed herbs, minerals, and spices into sticky pastes sweetened with honey, making bitter medicines palatable enough to actually swallow.

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