apothecary

[ uh-poth-uh-ker-ee ]

noun

plural apothecaries.

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

A peppercorn-studded prime rib rests on the counter next to an apothecary jar full of weed.

From Los Angeles Times

He stashes the weapon he took from the guard booth in a nearby apothecary cabinet before popping another lorazepam and climbing into bed.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s like a little apothecary chest where there are all these different drawers in front of me that I can use,” Bates explains of her acting process.

From Los Angeles Times

There are more than 50 Chinese herbal apothecaries in the Los Angeles area, according to Willie So, sales director of Chinatown-based Solstice Medicine, a leading distributor of traditional Chinese medicine products since 1979.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times