veterinary

[vet-er-uh-ner-ee, ve-truh-]

noun, plural vet·er·i·nar·ies.

a veterinarian.

adjective

of or relating to the medical and surgical treatment of animals, especially domesticated animals.

Origin of veterinary

1780–90; < Latin veterīnārius, equivalent to veterīn(ae) beasts of burden (noun use of feminine plural of veterīnus pertaining to such beasts, equivalent to veter-, stem of vetus old, i.e., grown, able to take a load + -īnus -ine¹) + -ārius -ary

Related formsnon·vet·er·i·nar·y, adjective, noun, plural non·vet·er·i·nar·ies.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for veterinary

Contemporary Examples of veterinary

Animals were often left in the back "sick room" with little if any veterinary care.
13 Revelations From Reddit’s ‘Dirty Little Secret’ Thread Exposing Alleged Industry Secrets
Nina Strochlic
August 23, 2013
My next book project goes back to my lifelong interests in animals, veterinary medicine, science, and ethics.
Rebecca Skloot: How I Write
Noah Charney
March 6, 2013
They stormed into law, medical, and veterinary schools, and female undergraduate enrollment surged.
The Truth About Title IX
Karen Blumenthal
June 22, 2012
What impact are veterinary clinics really having on the hardcore hangers on within Abu Sayyaf?
Terror in the Jungle
Eliza Griswold
October 3, 2009
And veterinary medicine has also undergone an especially revolution in the modern pet era.
Dogs—So Like Us
Michael Schaffer
March 31, 2009

Historical Examples of veterinary

He was said to be the son of a veterinary surgeon of the neighbourhood of Amiens.
His Masterpiece
Emile Zola
"I am not a veterinary surgeon," he at last replied, exasperated.
The Fortune of the Rougons
Emile Zola
From the same farm and at the same time a veterinary surgeon had been called in.
Cattle and Cattle-breeders
William M'Combie
The moment that milk-fever is observed the veterinary surgeon should be called in.
Cattle and Cattle-breeders
William M'Combie
The first veterinary school in France had been founded at Lyons in 1762.
Critical Miscellanies (Vol. 2 of 3)
John Morley

British Dictionary definitions for veterinary

veterinary

adjective

of or relating to veterinary medicine

Word Origin for veterinary

C18: from Latin veterīnārius concerning draught animals, from veterīnae draught animals; related to vetus mature (hence able to bear a burden)

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

Word Origin and History for veterinary

adj.

1791, from Latin veterinarius, from veterinus (see veterinarian).

veterinary in Medicine

veterinary

[vĕt′ər-ə-nĕr′ē, vĕt′rə-]

adj.

Of or relating to veterinary medicine.

A veterinarian.