n. 1. A remedy or other agent used to neutralize or counteract the effects of a poison. 2. An agent that relieves or counteracts: jogging as an antidote to nervous tension. tr.v. an·ti·dot·ed, an·ti·dot·ing, an·ti·dotes To relieve or counteract with an antidote: "Hallie's family life is laced with the poison of self-hatred, a poison that Sam has antidoted with love and understanding" (Christopher Swan). [Middle English, from Latin antidotum, from Greek antidoton, from antididonai, antido-, to give as a remedy against : anti-, anti- + didonai, to give; see dō- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] an′ti·dotal (ăn′tĭ-dōtl) adj. an′ti·dotal·ly adv. Usage Note: Antidote may be followed by to, for, or against: an antidote to boredom; an antidote for snakebite; an antidote against inflation. |
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