officinal

[ uh-fis-uh-nl ]

adjective

1. kept in stock by apothecaries, as a drug. Compare magistral ( def 1 ).
2. recognized by a pharmacopoeia.

noun

1. an officinal medicine.

officinal

/ ˌɒfɪˈsaɪnəl; ɒˈfɪsɪnəl /

adjective

1. (of pharmaceutical products) available without prescription
2. (of a plant) having pharmacological properties

noun

1. an officinal preparation or plant

Derived Forms

• ofˈficinally, adverb

Other Words From

• of·fici·nal·ly adverb
• nonof·fici·nal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of officinal¹

1710–20; < Medieval Latin officīnālis of a store or workshop, equivalent to Latin officīn ( a ) workshop, presumably contraction of opificīna ( opific-, stem of opifex artisan, equivalent to opi-, combining form akin to opus work + -fic-, combining form of facere to make, do ¹ + -īna -ine ¹; office ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of officinal¹

C17: from Medieval Latin officīnālis, from Latin officīna workshop; see office

Example Sentences

The seed and oil, and a spirit and a water prepared from them, are officinal in the pharmacopias.

From Project Gutenberg

Both plants contain in the bark of their roots the same red dye as the officinal roots of the Alcanna tinctoria.

From Project Gutenberg

The root is quite the same as that of the officinal Radix senegæ.

From Project Gutenberg

Named from the country Liguria, where the officinal Lovage of the gardens abounds.

From Project Gutenberg

The pubic louse may be exterminated by the measures recommended for the head louse, or by the use of officinal mercurial ointment.

From Project Gutenberg