physic
English
Alternative forms
- physick (obsolete)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfɪzɪk/
- Rhymes: -ɪzɪk
Audio (UK) (file)
Etymology 1
From Middle English phisik, from Latin physicus, from Ancient Greek φῠσῐκός (phusikós, “natural; physical”), from φύσις (phúsis, “origin, birth; nature, quality; form, shape; type, kind”), from φῠ́ω (phúō, “grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).
Adjective
physic (comparative more physic, superlative most physic)
- Relating to or concerning existent materials; physical.
Etymology 2
From Middle English fysike (noun) and phisiken, fisike (verb; from the noun), from Old French fisike (“natural science, art of healing”), from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσική (phusikḗ), feminine singular of φῠσῐκός (phusikós, “natural; physical”), see above.
Noun
physic (countable and uncountable, plural physics)
- (archaic, countable) A medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purgative.
- c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act IV, scene vi], page 79, column 2:
- I ſhould not thinke it ſtrange, for 'tis a phyſicke / That's bitter, to ſweet end.
- 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 34”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, OCLC 216596634:
- Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Sirach 18:19:
- Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.
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- (archaic, uncountable) The art or profession of healing disease; medicine.
- 1743, Stephen Hales, A Description of Ventilators p. xiii.
- ...and thus draw out all the unwholesome Air and Stench, which does more harm than any Physick can repair.
- 1743, Stephen Hales, A Description of Ventilators p. xiii.
- (archaic, uncountable) Natural philosophy; physics.
- (obsolete) A physician.
- 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 147”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, OCLC 216596634:
- Desire is death, which physic did except.
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Derived terms
- physician
Verb
physic (third-person singular simple present physics, present participle physicking, simple past and past participle physicked)
- (transitive) To cure or heal.
- 1637, Tho[mas] Heywood, “Ivpiter and Io”, in Pleasant Dialogues and Dramma’s, Selected out of Lucian, Erasmus, Textor, Ovid, &c. […], London: […] R. O[ulton] for R. H[earne], and are to be sold by Thomas Slater […], OCLC 5060642, page 170:
- Wouldſt thou not haue ſome Bulchin from the herd / To phyſicke thee of this venereall itch?
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- (transitive) To administer medicine to, especially a purgative.
- c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act I, scene i], lines 73-74:
- I will physic your rankness […]
- 1987, Stephen King, The Tommyknockers:
- When she had been a little girl - a very little girl - her mother had once cried at Anne in utter exasperation, "You're so contrary cheese'd physic ya!"
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Anagrams
- scyphi