v., -cat·ed, -cat·ing, -cates. v.tr.
- To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol.
- To stimulate or excite: “a man whom life intoxicates, who has no need of wine” (Anaïs Nin).
- To poison.
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).
[Middle English, to poison, from Medieval Latin intoxicāre, intoxicāt- : Latin in-, in; see in–2 + Late Latin toxicāre, to smear with poison (from Latin toxicum, poison; see toxic).]
intoxicatingly in·tox'i·cat'ing·ly adv.intoxicative in·tox'i·ca'tive adj.
intoxicator in·tox'i·ca'tor n.
