What does elixir mean?
Word: Elixir
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Elixir means a magic liquid in old tales that was said to keep people young or solve every problem.
How do you spell elixir?
Syllables: e - lix - ir
Tricky part: The last two letters are ir, not er. The ending is said so lightly that elixer is the usual slip.
Watch out for: elixer, elixar
Memory tip: An old-time potion maker had to stir and stir, and this word finishes the same way as stir.
Elixir in a sentence
Example 1: The old wizard in the story kept the elixir in a tiny blue bottle.
Example 2: Explorers in the tale crossed three deserts in search of the elixir.
Example 3: For my tired grandfather, a cup of strong tea is a kind of daily elixir.
Fun Fact
It reached English through Latin from an Arabic word used by alchemists, the early experimenters who tried to turn ordinary metals into gold.
Practise the CREST Way
Spellacadabra
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
el__xir
a) y
b) i
c) a
d) e
Show answer
b) i. The vowel before the x is a short i, as in six.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
In the old tale, one sip of the golden ___ would give the prince the strength of ten men.
a) effigy
b) eclipse
c) emblem
d) elixir
Show answer
d) elixir. Only a magic drink can be sipped, so the other three are ruled out.
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
xrieli 123456
a) 453162
b) 324615
c) 654213
d) 362145
Show answer
a) 453162. Read the letters in that order and the magic drink of old tales appears.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its meaning:
1. scroll 2. elixir 3. goblet a. a wonder drink from old legends b. a fine drinking cup with a stem c. a long roll of paper with writing on it
a) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
Show answer
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. A scroll is rolled up, a goblet is held by its stem, and the legend tells of the wonder drink.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A writer calls cold lime water an elixir after a long, hot walk. What does the writer mean?
a) it costs more than it should
b) it tastes too sour to finish
c) it takes a long time to make
d) it seems to bring back all your energy
Show answer
d) it seems to bring back all your energy
2. In which kind of book are you most likely to read about an elixir?
a) a railway timetable
b) a telephone directory
c) a fantasy adventure story
d) a school maths textbook
Show answer
c) a fantasy adventure story
