ichor

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The liquid said to flow in place of blood in the veins of the gods.
  2. The blood of human beings or animals; also (obsolete) the clear, fluid portion of blood; blood plasma, plasma.
  3. A blood-like fluid.
  4. A fluid believed to seep out from magma and cause rock to turn into granite.
  5. A fetid, watery discharge from a sore; pus.

Pronunciation

/ˈaɪkɔː/ /-kə/ /ˈɪkə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ichor.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ichor2.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ichor3.wav /ˈaɪkɔɹ/ /ˈɪkəɹ/

Word forms

ichor ichors

Etymology

Sense 1 (“liquid said to flow in place of blood in the veins of the gods”) is borrowed from Medieval Latin ichor, from Ancient Greek ῑ̓χώρ (īkhṓr, “fluid running through the veins of gods, ichor; watery part of blood, lymph, serum; watery part of milk, whey; gravy; pus; naphtha”); further etymology unknown, probably from Pre-Greek. Sense 2.4 (“fetid, watery discharge from a sore”) is from Middle English icor, icore [and other forms], from Medieval Latin ichor; see further above.

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