'Medicine' definitions:

Definition of 'medicine'

From: WordNet
noun
The branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques [syn: medicine, medical specialty]
noun
(medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease [syn: medicine, medication, medicament, medicinal drug]
noun
The learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries; "he studied medicine at Harvard" [syn: medicine, practice of medicine]
noun
Punishment for one's actions; "you have to face the music"; "take your medicine" [syn: music, medicine]
verb
Treat medicinally, treat with medicine [syn: medicate, medicine]

Definition of 'Medicine'

From: GCIDE
  • Medicine \Med"i*cine\, n. [L. medicina (sc. ars), fr. medicinus medical, fr. medicus: cf. F. m['e]decine. See Medical.]
  • 1. The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a medication; a drug; a pharmaceutical; a medicament; a remedy; physic. [1913 Webster]
  • By medicine, life may be prolonged. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A philter or love potion. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. [F. m['e]decin.] A physician. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. (a) Among the North American Indians, any object supposed to give control over natural or magical forces, to act as a protective charm, or to cause healing; also, magical power itself; the potency which a charm, token, or rite is supposed to exert. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • The North American Indian boy usually took as his medicine the first animal of which he dreamed during the long and solitary fast that he observed at puberty. --F. H. Giddings. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] (b) Hence, a similar object or agency among other savages. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • 6. Short for Medicine man. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • 7. Intoxicating liquor; drink. [Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • Medicine bag, a charm; -- so called among the North American Indians, or in works relating to them.
  • Medicine man (among the North American Indians), a person who professes to cure sickness, drive away evil spirits, and regulate the weather by the arts of magic; a shaman.
  • Medicine seal, a small gem or paste engraved with reversed characters, to serve as a seal. Such seals were used by Roman physicians to stamp the names of their medicines. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Medicine'

From: GCIDE
  • Medicine \Med"i*cine\, v. t. To give medicine to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy; to cure. "Medicine thee to that sweet sleep." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'medicine'

From: GCIDE
  • Physic \Phys"ic\ (f[i^]z"[i^]k), n. [OE. phisike, fisike, OF. phisique, F. physique knowledge of nature, physics, L. physica, physice, fr. Gr. fysikh`, fr. fysiko`s natural, from fy`sis nature, fr. fy`ein to produce, grow, akin to E. be. See Be, and cf. Physics, Physique.]
  • 1. The art of healing diseases; the science of medicine; the theory or practice of medicine; -- an archaic term, superseded by medicine. [archaic] "A doctor of physik." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A specific internal application for the cure or relief of sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Specifically, a medicine that purges; a cathartic. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. A physician. [R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • Physic nut (Bot.), a small tropical American euphorbiaceous tree (Jatropha Curcas), and its seeds, which are well flavored, but contain a drastic oil which renders them dangerous if eaten in large quantities. [1913 Webster]