apothecary

[ uh-poth-uh-ker-ee ]

noun

, plural a·poth·e·car·ies.

1. a druggist; a pharmacist.
2. a pharmacy or drugstore.
3. (especially in England and Ireland) a druggist licensed to prescribe medicine.

apothecary

/ əˈpɒθɪkərɪ /

noun

1. an archaic word for pharmacist
2. law a chemist licensed by the Society of Apothecaries of London to prescribe, prepare, and sell drugs

Word History and Origins

Origin of apothecary¹

1325–75; Middle English (< Old French ) < Medieval Latin apothēcārius seller of spices and drugs, Late Latin: shopkeeper, equivalent to Latin apothēc ( a ) shop, storehouse (< Greek apothḗkē; apo-, theca ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of apothecary¹

C14: from Old French apotecaire, from Late Latin apothēcārius warehouseman, from apothēca, from Greek apothēkē storehouse

Example Sentences

“Lots of plants look alike and are called similar things, so the taxonomy and the nomenclature can be confusing. Unless you have a very well-trained botanist who knows what they’re looking for, you could be getting something else by the time it gets to an apothecary.”

From Los Angeles Times

Called the Bohemian Chemist, it’s a dispensary with the vibe of an Art Deco apothecary.

From Los Angeles Times

Called the Bohemian Chemist, it’s a dispensary with the vibe of an Art Deco apothecary.

From Los Angeles Times

A few minutes later, I walked up the street to an herbal apothecary that offers rose quartz crystals alongside dropper-bottle tinctures labeled “Happiness.”

From Los Angeles Times

A few minutes later, I walked up the street to an herbal apothecary that offers rose quartz crystals alongside dropper-bottle tinctures labeled “Happiness.”

From Los Angeles Times