venom /ˈvɛnəm/noun 2adjective 1verb 1forms 3 noun2 •An animal toxin intended for defensive or offensive use; a biological poison delivered by bite, sting, etc., to protect an animal or to kill its prey.[…] There may be in the cup / A spider steep’d, and one may drink, depart, / And yet partake no venom, for his knowledge / Is not infected... — 1610 •(figurative) Feeling or speech marked by spite or malice; vitriol.The venom of such looks, we fairly hope, / Have lost their quality, and that this day / Shall change all griefs and quarrels into love. — 1599 adjective1 •(no longer used) Poisonous, poisoned; (figuratively) pernicious.Why should the worm intrude the maiden bud? / Or hateful cuckoos hatch in sparrows’ nests? / Or toads infect fair founts with venom mud? — 1594 verb1 •(no longer used) To infect with venom; to envenom; to poison.Let’s leave the hermit pity with our mothers, / And when we have our armours buckled on, / The venom’d vengeance ride upon our swords, / Spur them to ruthful work, rein them from ruth. — 1602 formsvenomed · venoming · venoms
