poisonous

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Containing sufficient poison to be dangerous to touch or ingest.

   • While highly poisonous to dogs, this substance is completely harmless if ingested by humans.
   • Nor taint-worm ſhall infect the yeaning herds / Nor penny-graſs, nor ſpearwort's poiſ'nous leaf.
   • I had picked a mushroom so poisonous that particles of it, stuck to my fingers and accidentally swallowed, could have made me deathly ill, and a piece the size of my thumb could have killed me.
2. 2

   Of an animal such as a snake or spider, or parts of its body

   Of an animal such as a snake or spider, or parts of its body: producing a toxin intended for defensive or offensive use which is usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging; hence, of a bite or sting: injecting poison.

   • Poisonous snakes should only be handled by experienced professionals.
   • SERPENT … either that which is not poiſonous: or that which is counted poiſonous, having two long, hollow, moveable teeth, …
   • The Cencoatl (o), which is alſo a poiſonous ſnake, is about five feet long, and eight inches round at the thickeſt part.
3. 3

   Negative, harmful.

   • He didn't want to end up like his grandfather, bitter and intractable, consumed in his hatred like an addict on haze — a poisonous attitude that would possess him all his remaining years.

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