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.
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
June, July.—A well-known officinal anthelmintic, and a showy plant.
From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Asa Gray
Syrup of tar is an officinal medicine in the United States of America for chronic bronchitis, and winter cough.
From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by William Thomas Fernie
A name popularly given to the officinal valerian, and to some other plants.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Noah Webster
The biennial form is that which is considered officinal.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
