tartar emetic
Very LowTechnical/Historical
Definition
Meaning
A chemical compound (antimony potassium tartrate) used historically as an emetic and in medicine.
A toxic, crystalline substance formerly used to induce vomiting, treat parasitic infections, and as a mordant in dyeing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a historical/technical term from medicine and chemistry. Modern usage is almost exclusively in historical contexts or specialized fields like toxicology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional differences in meaning or usage; both use the same technical term.
Connotations
Historical medical treatment, toxicity, obsolete pharmacology.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, limited to historical medical texts or specialized chemistry.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The physician administered tartar emetic.Tartar emetic was used to treat the condition.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical medical or chemistry papers discussing obsolete treatments or toxic substances.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in historical toxicology, pharmacology, or chemistry contexts to refer to a specific compound.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The tartar emetic solution was carefully measured.
- A tartar emetic treatment was prescribed.
American English
- The tartar emetic compound was analyzed.
- Tartar emetic toxicity was well-documented.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a very old medicine.
- Doctors long ago used a medicine called tartar emetic.
- Tartar emetic, an antimony-based compound, was a common emetic in 19th-century pharmacopoeias.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TARTAR' like dental plaque (unpleasant) + 'EMETIC' (makes you vomit) = an unpleasant substance that induces vomiting.
Conceptual Metaphor
POISON AS MEDICINE (historical concept of using toxic substances in small doses for therapeutic effect).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'тартар' (Tartar/Tatar) the ethnic group or 'тартар' (tartare) the sauce. This is a specific chemical name.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'tarter emetic' or 'tartar emetic' (confusing the double 't').
- Using it in modern medical contexts (it's obsolete).
Practice
Quiz
Tartar emetic is best described as:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered obsolete and too toxic for modern therapeutic use.
The main active ingredient is antimony, a toxic metalloid.
The 'tartar' refers to tartaric acid, a component of the compound (potassium antimonyl tartrate).
Almost exclusively in historical texts, toxicology case studies of antique poisons, or the history of medicine and chemistry.