physic

[ fiz-ik ]

noun

1. a medicine that purges; cathartic; laxative.
2. any medicine; a drug or medicament.
3. Archaic. the medical art or profession.
4. Obsolete. natural science.

verb (used with object)

, phys·icked, phys·ick·ing.

1. to treat with or act upon as a physic or medicine.
2. to work upon as a medicine does; relieve or cure.

physic

/ ˈfɪzɪk /

noun

1. rare.
   a medicine or drug, esp a cathartic or purge
2. archaic.
   the art or skill of healing
3. an archaic term for physics

verb

1. archaic.
   tr to treat (a patient) with medicine

Derived Forms

• ˈphysicky, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of physic¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the noun) Middle English fisyk(e), phisik(e), from Old French fisique, from Latin physica “natural science” ( Medieval Latin: “medical science”), from Greek physikḗ “science of nature,” noun use of feminine form of physikós “pertaining to nature,” from phýs(is) physis + -ikos -ic; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of physic¹

C13: from Old French fisique, via Latin, from Greek phusikē, from phusis nature

Example Sentences

Between our official classes, we members of Gerace’s tiny physics guild taught ourselves relativity, quantum mechanics, and other mysteries and beauties of modern physics, under the master’s guidance.

From Nautilus

The natural processes on Earth and in the universe have produced only a small sample of the full menu of molecules and forms of matter, and consequently of the corresponding laws of physics they will have to obey.

From Quanta Magazine

Unfortunately, the laws of physics seemed to suggest otherwise.

From Nautilus

The phenomena of physics are always expressed in terms of how one set of measurable numbers behaves when other sets of measurable numbers are held fixed or varied.

From Nautilus

There’s a multitude of complex physics involved, and who knows how true-to-science the scene is, but getting the details right to successfully grab something in space certainly isn’t easy.

From Singularity Hub 

Sir Robert Peel congratulated the house upon the noble lord's aversion to Mr. Wakley's physic.

From Project Gutenberg

Either by physic forward or by clyster backward or both ways to get an easy and plentiful going to stool and breaking of wind.

From Project Gutenberg

So home to supper and to bed, being troubled to find myself so bound as I am, notwithstanding all the physic that I take.

From Project Gutenberg

The cow should be bled, and take a large dose of physic; then wash the udder as in caked bag.

From Project Gutenberg

Scott had some knowledge of surgery and physic; so had Will Hodges, who had at one time been a schoolmaster.

From Project Gutenberg