collyrium

Etymology

From Latin collȳrium, from Ancient Greek κολλύριον (kollúrion, “poultice”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kəˈlɪɹɪəm/

Noun

collyrium (countable and uncountable, plural collyria or collyriums)

1. A lotion or liquid wash used as a cleanser for the eyes; an eye-salve.
   • 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, Oxford: Printed by Iohn Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 216894069; The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd corrected and augmented edition, Oxford: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, 1624, OCLC 54573970, (please specify |partition=1, 2, or 3):
     , II.2.6.ii:

     Democritus' collyrium is not so sovereign to the eyes as this is to the heart […]

2. Loosely, any product applied to or around the eyes; kohl.
   • 1919, Ronald Firbank, Valmouth, Duckworth, hardback edition, page 44

     […] there were rings of collyrium about her eyes.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /kolˈlyː.ri.um/, [kɔlˈlyː.ri.ũ]

Noun

collȳrium n (genitive collȳriī); second declension

1. eye-salve
2. pessary, suppository

References

• collyrium in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• collyrium in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• collyrium in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• collyrium in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
• collyrium in William Smith et al., editor (1890) A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin