PHYSIC Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

physic

[fiz-ik]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a medicine that purges; cathartic; laxative.
any medicine; a drug or medicament.
Archaic.��the medical art or profession.
Obsolete.��natural science.

verb (used with object)

physicked, physicking

to treat with or act upon as a physic or medicine.
to work upon as a medicine does; relieve or cure.

physic

/ ˈ��ɪ��ɪ�� /

noun

rare��a medicine or drug, esp a cathartic or purge
archaic��the art or skill of healing
an archaic term for physics

verb

archaic��(tr) to treat (a patient) with medicine

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

ˈ�� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of physic¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the noun) Middle English fisyk(e), phisik(e), from Old French fisique, from Latin physica “natural science” ( Medieval Latin: “medical science”), from Greek ��ḗ “science of nature,” noun use of feminine form of ��ó�� “pertaining to nature,” from ��ý��(��) physis + -ikos -ic; verb derivative of the noun

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of physic¹

C13: from Old French fisique, via Latin, from Greek ��ܲ��ŧ, from phusis nature

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“I rather hope to satisfy you both,” said Emma, “for I shall do all in my power to make them happy, which will be enough for Isabella; and happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic.”

From

So, too, in French you find ‘physic’ in the singular, not the plural, to mean natural science: e.g.

From

It all started back in 1670, when two Edinburgh doctors - Robert Sibbald and Andrew Balfour - set up a physic garden, to explore the links between plants and medicine, for the benefit of society.

From

Lord Sands in “Henry VIII”: ’Tis time to give ’em physic, their diseases are grown so catching.”

From

It was nothing a good physic or a patent medicine wouldn’t take care of.

From

physiatry physical

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