[syn: medicate, medicine]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Physic \Phys"ic\ (f[i^]z"[i^]k), n. [OE. phisike, fisike, OF.
phisique, F. physique knowledge of nature, physics, L.
physica, physice, fr. Gr. fysikh`, fr. fysiko`s natural, from
fy`sis nature, fr. fy`ein to produce, grow, akin to E. be.
See Be, and cf. Physics, Physique.]
1. The art of healing diseases; the science of medicine; the
theory or practice of medicine; -- an archaic term,
superseded by medicine. [archaic] "A doctor of physik."
--Chaucer.
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2. A specific internal application for the cure or relief of
sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine.
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3. Specifically, a medicine that purges; a cathartic.
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4. A physician. [R.] --Shak.
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Physic nut (Bot.), a small tropical American euphorbiaceous
tree (Jatropha Curcas), and its seeds, which are well
flavored, but contain a drastic oil which renders them
dangerous if eaten in large quantities.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Medicine \Med"i*cine\, v. t.
To give medicine to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy;
to cure. "Medicine thee to that sweet sleep." --Shak.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Medicine \Med"i*cine\, n. [L. medicina (sc. ars), fr. medicinus
medical, fr. medicus: cf. F. m['e]decine. See Medical.]
1. The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or
alleviation of disease.
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2. Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a
remedial agent; a medication; a drug; a pharmaceutical; a
medicament; a remedy; physic.
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By medicine, life may be prolonged. --Shak.
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3. A philter or love potion. [Obs.] --Shak.
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4. [F. m['e]decin.] A physician. [Obs.] --Shak.
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5.
(a) Among the North American Indians, any object supposed
to give control over natural or magical forces, to act
as a protective charm, or to cause healing; also,
magical power itself; the potency which a charm,
token, or rite is supposed to exert.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
The North American Indian boy usually took as
his medicine the first animal of which he
dreamed during the long and solitary fast that
he observed at puberty. --F. H.
Giddings.
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(b) Hence, a similar object or agency among other savages.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
6. Short for Medicine man.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
7. Intoxicating liquor; drink. [Slang]
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Medicine bag, a charm; -- so called among the North
American Indians, or in works relating to them.
Medicine man (among the North American Indians), a person
who professes to cure sickness, drive away evil spirits,
and regulate the weather by the arts of magic; a shaman.
Medicine seal, a small gem or paste engraved with reversed
characters, to serve as a seal. Such seals were used by
Roman physicians to stamp the names of their medicines.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
medicine
n 1: the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical
techniques [syn: medicine, medical specialty]
2: (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates
the symptoms of disease [syn: medicine, medication,
medicament, medicinal drug]
3: the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training
in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or
alleviating or curing diseases and injuries; "he studied
medicine at Harvard" [syn: medicine, practice of
medicine]
4: punishment for one's actions; "you have to face the music";
"take your medicine" [syn: music, medicine]
v 1: treat medicinally, treat with medicine [syn: medicate,
medicine]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
103 Moby Thesaurus words for "medicine":
anatomy, anesthesiology, audiology, bacteriology, balm, balsam,
cardiology, chiropody, corpse reviver, cure, cure-all,
dental surgery, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostics, drops, drug,
electuary, elixir, embryology, endocrinology, epidemiology,
ethical drug, etiology, exodontics, firewater, fluoroscopy,
generic name, geriatrics, gerontology, healing arts, hematology,
herbs, hooch, hygiene, immunochemistry, immunology, inhalant,
internal medicine, likker, lincture, linctus, materia medica,
medical care, medical treatment, medicament, medication, medicinal,
medicinal herbs, medicines, mental hygiene, mixture, mycology,
neurology, neurosurgery, nonprescription drug, nostrum, nutrition,
obstetrics, officinal, ophthalmology, optometry, orthodontics,
otolaryngology, otology, panacea, patent medicine, pathology,
periodontics, pharmaceutical, pharmacon, physic, physical medicine,
powder, preparation, prescription, prescription drug, proprietary,
proprietary medicine, proprietary name, psychiatry, psychoanalysis,
psychology, psychotherapy, radiology, remedy, sauce, semeiology,
serology, simples, snake medicine, surgery, symptomatology, syrup,
teratology, therapeusis, therapeutics, theraputant, therapy,
tiger milk, tisane, treatment, vegetable remedies
The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):
MEDICINE, n. A stone flung down the Bowery to kill a dog in Broadway.