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.

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

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The long horizontal aromatic roots a substitute for officinal Sarsaparilla.

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

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A dangerous compound of the latter sort introduced during the first epidemic of cholera in this country became officinal under the name of liniment of cantharides.

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