officinal
Americanadjective
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kept in stock by apothecaries, as a drug.
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recognized by a pharmacopoeia.
noun
adjective
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(of pharmaceutical products) available without prescription
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(of a plant) having pharmacological properties
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of officinal
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; cf. office) + -ālis -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Kutki is another officinal plant with a woody root, and a stem containing many alternate leaves, toothed on the edges, and shaped like a spathula.
From An Account of The Kingdom of Nepal And of the Territories Annexed to this Dominion by the House of Gorkha by Francis Hamilton
Lewis says, the College directed the syrup, which is the only officinal preparation of them, to be made by infusion.
From The Botanist's Companion, Volume II by William Salisbury
The leaves made into a tincture or infusion are now an officinal drug, valued in catarrh of the throat or stomach.
From The Wild Flowers of California: Their Names, Haunts, and Habits by Mary Elizabeth Parsons
CARDAMOM, the fruit of several plants of the genera Elettaria and Amomum, belonging to the natural order Zingiberaceae, the principal of which is Elettaria Cardamomum, from which the true officinal or Malabar cardamom is derived.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3 "Capefigue" to "Carneades" by Various
These, not being officinal, fail to find a place on the shelves of the ordinary Pharmaceutical druggist.
From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by William Thomas Fernie
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