a. and sb. [a. F. corroborant (Paré, 16th c.) or ad. L. corrōborānt-em, pr. pple. of corrōborāre: see CORROBORATE v.]
A. adj. 1. Strengthening, invigorating, esp. of medicinal agents.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 961. They be of three Intentions: Refrigerant, Corroborant, and Aperient.
1699. Phil. Trans., XXI. 55. The Aqua Santa … becomes so cordial and corroborant, that it works miraculous Effects in many Diseases.
1789. Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, I. 362. It is purgative, not corroborant, they tell me.
1800. Med. Jrnl., III. 231. His stomach had so lost its tone, that no medicine of the corroborant kind would stay a moment upon it.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 44. It is thought to have a corroborant influence upon the nervous system.
B. sb.
1. A strengthening agent; a strengthener or invigorator of the system; a tonic.
1727–52. in Chambers, Cycl.
1789. W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (ed. 11), 321. The best corroborants which we know, are the Peruvian bark and wine.
1866. Treas. Bot., I. 333/2. In cases of debility, Dogwood is a valuable corroborant.
2. Something that corroborates (a statement, etc.); a corroboratory fact.
1805. Med. Jrnl., XVII. 511. It is not my intention … to trouble you with all the corroborants of this subject.
1890. M. Davitt, in 19th Cent., March, 375. This charge … was dexterously used as a corroborant to the forgeries and fabrications of Parnellism and Crime.
