Definition

A substance derived from certain cacti that causes hallucinations when consumed.

Example

Some people use mescaline for its psychedelic effects during spiritual ceremonies.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of mescaline?

Yeah, I've read about it; it's supposed to cause some wild hallucinations.

I was curious if it's safe to try in a controlled setting.

I think you should be really careful; it's not something to take lightly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mescaline is derived from the word 'mescal' (from Nahuatl *mexcalli*, meaning 'maguey' or 'agave'), which refers to the plant from which mescaline is extracted. The suffix '-ine' is used in chemistry to denote substances, particularly alkaloids. Thus, mescaline refers to a substance derived from the mescal plant.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'mescal' as the source of mescaline, which is a substance derived from the agave plant. This helps you remember that mescaline comes from mescal.

Visually Confused Words