physic

[ fiz-ik ]
See synonyms for: physicphysics on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a medicine that purges; cathartic; laxative.

  2. any medicine; a drug or medicament.

  1. Archaic. the medical art or profession.

  2. 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.

Origin of physic

1
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

Words that may be confused with physic

Words Nearby physic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use physic in a sentence

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

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

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

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

    Domestic Animals | Richard L. Allen
  • Scott had some knowledge of surgery and physic; so had Will Hodges, who had at one time been a schoolmaster.

    Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport Adams

British Dictionary definitions for physic

physic

/ (ˈfɪzɪk) /


noun
  1. rare a medicine or drug, esp a cathartic or purge

  2. archaic the art or skill of healing

  1. an archaic term for physics (def. 1)

verb-ics, -icking or -icked
  1. (tr) archaic to treat (a patient) with medicine

Origin of physic

1
C13: from Old French fisique, via Latin, from Greek phusikē, from phusis nature

Derived forms of physic

  • physicky, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012