officinal
[ uh-fis-uh-nl ]
/ əˈfɪs ə nl /
|
adjective
kept in stock by apothecaries, as a drug.Compare magistral(def 1).
recognized by a pharmacopoeia.
noun
an officinal medicine.
Nearby words
officialize, officially, officiant, officiary, officiate, officinal, officious, officious will, officiously, offing, offish
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, do1 + -īna -ine1; cf. office) + -ālis -al1
Related formsof·fic·i·nal·ly, adverbnon·of·fic·i·nal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for officinal
British Dictionary definitions for officinal
officinal
/ (ɒˈfɪsɪnəl, ˌɒfɪˈsaɪnəl) pharmacol obsolete /
adjective
(of pharmaceutical products) available without prescription
(of a plant) having pharmacological properties
noun
an officinal preparation or plant
Derived Formsofficinally, adverb
Word Origin for officinal
C17: from Medieval Latin officīnālis, from Latin officīna workshop; see office
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for officinal
officinal
"kept in stock by a druggist," c.1720, from French officinal, from Medieval Latin officinalis, literally "of or belonging in an officina," a storeroom (of a monastery) for medicines and necessaries, in classical Latin "workshop, manufactory, laboratory," contraction of *opificina, from opifex (genitive opificis) "worker, workman, maker, doer" (from opus "work;" see opus) + -fex, -ficis "one who does," from facere "do, perform" (see factitious). Related: Officinally.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for officinal
officinal
[ ə-fĭs′ə-nəl, ŏf′ĭ-sī′nəl ]
adj.
Readily available in pharmacies; not requiring special preparation.
Recognized by a pharmacopoeia.
n.
An official drug.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.