apothecary
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (1)apothecaries
- a health professional trained in the art of preparing and dispensing drugsSynonyms: pharmacistdruggistchemistpill pusherpill rollerType of health professional, primary care providerKinds pharmacologist, pharmaceutical chemist
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. apotecarie, fr. LL. apothecarius, fr. L. apotheca storehouse, Gr. απο, fr. … to put away; … from + … to put: cf. F. apothicaire, OF. apotecaire. See Thesis.
1. One who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes; a druggist; a pharmacist.
☞ In England an apothecary is one of a privileged class of practitioners, licensed to prescribe medicine — a kind of sub-physician. The surgeon apothecary is the ordinary family medical attendant. One who sells drugs and makes up prescriptions is now commonly called in England a druggist or a pharmaceutical chemist.
2. A drugstore; a store where medicines are sold.
Apothecaries' weight, the system of weights by which medical prescriptions were formerly compounded. The pound and ounce are the same as in Troy weight; they differ only in the manner of subdivision. The ounce is divided into 8 drams, 24 scruples, 480 grains. See Troy weight.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: GCIDE editors
The Devil's Dictionary
When Jove sent blessings to all men that are, And Mercury conveyed them in a jar, That friend of tricksters introduced by stealth Disease for the apothecary's health, Whose gratitude impelled him to proclaim: "My deadliest drug shall bear my patron's name!" G.J.