officinal

[uh-fis-uh-nl]

adjective

1. kept in stock by apothecaries, as a drug.

2. recognized by a pharmacopoeia.

noun

1. an officinal medicine.

officinal

/ ɒˈfɪsɪnəl, ˌɒfɪˈsaɪnəl /

adjective

1. (of pharmaceutical products) available without prescription

2. (of a plant) having pharmacological properties

noun

1. an officinal preparation or plant

Other Word Forms

• officinally adverb
• nonofficinal 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 biennial form is that which is considered officinal.

From Project Gutenberg

June, July.—A well-known officinal anthelmintic, and a showy plant.

From Project Gutenberg

The long horizontal aromatic roots a substitute for officinal Sarsaparilla.

From Project Gutenberg

A name popularly given to the officinal valerian, and to some other plants.

From Project Gutenberg

If the diphtheritic pseudo-membrane appear in the nares, the officinal lime-water, injected every hour or second hour, is beneficial in consequence of its solvent action on pseudo-membranes.

From Project Gutenberg