English Explanatory Dictionary

physic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Relating to or concerning existent materials; physical.
noun
  1. A medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purgative.
  2. The art or profession of healing disease; medicine.
  3. Natural philosophy; physics.
  4. A physician.
verb
  1. To cure or heal.
  2. To administer medicine to, especially a purgative.

Pronunciation

fĭz′ĭk /ˈfɪz.ɪk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-physic.wav /ˈfəz.ək/ /ˈfiz.ik/

Word forms

physic more physic most physic phisicke physick physics physicking physicked

Etymology

From Middle English phisik, from Latin physicus, from Ancient Greek φῠσῐκός (phŭsĭkós, “natural; physical”), from φύσις (phúsis, “origin, birth; nature, quality; form, shape; type, kind”), from φῠ́ω (phŭ́ō, “grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).

Derived words

Culver's physic metaphysic nonphysic otophysic physically physic finger physic garden physician physicism physicker physicky physic nut
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