ɪn pɹˈiːmˈɑːdɚn mˈɛdəsən, kˈæθəlˌɪkən wʌzɐ sˈɔft ᵻlˈɛktjuːˌɛɹi, sˌoʊ kˈɔːld æz bˌiːɪŋ səpˈoʊzɪdli jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsəl ɪn ɪts kjˈʊɹɹətˌɪv ænd pɹˌɑːfɪlˈæktɪk ɐbˈɪləɾiz sˈiː pˌænɐsˈiːə; ɔːɹ ɐ pˈɜːdʒɚɹ ʌv ˈɔːl hjˈuːmɚz.
In pre-modern medicine, catholicon was a soft electuary, so called as being supposedly universal in its curative and prophylactic abilities (see panacea); or a purger of all humours.