infusionem

Infusionem is a Latin noun form used in historical medical and botanical Latin to denote an infusion, that is, a liquid produced by steeping plant material in a solvent such as water to extract flavors, aromas, or medicinal constituents. In many texts, infusionem also refers to the act or result of infusing a liquid into a patient, though the precise meaning can vary with context.

Etymology and form: Infusionem derives from infusio, itself from the verb infundere, meaning “to pour in.” Infusio is a feminine noun, and infusionem is its accusative singular form. The term sits within a broader Latin vocabulary for preparations of liquids, tinctures, and extracts used in pharmacology, gastronomy, and natural philosophy.

Usage and contexts: In botanical and pharmacological writings, infusionem describes the liquid obtained by steeping plant material, often to extract active constituents or flavors. It contrasts with other liquid preparations such as decoctions (where plant material is boiled). In medical Latin, infusionem can appear in phrases indicating administration of a liquid by infusion, depending on the source and period.

Modern relevance: The concept behind infusionem survives in modern English as infusion, a term used for both culinary infusions (such as tea) and medical infusions (intravenous or infusion-type administrations). In Latin-language antiquarian and medieval texts, infusionem remains a historical linguistic illustration of how liquids were prepared and described in early scientific and medical writing. In Latin manuscripts, it would appear as the object form in sentences like infusionem herbae (an infusion of herbs).