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

She started an apothecary business after his death to help other people build their immune systems to better fend off infections.

From Washington Post

The establishment is really beautiful, having the appearance more of an apothecary store, than a Grocery House.

From Project Gutenberg

As for his age, he himself told the apothecary of the Bastille, a little before his death, that he believed he was about sixty.

From Project Gutenberg

Having lost his father when very young, he was placed with an apothecary, with whom he lived several years.

From Project Gutenberg

The next to suffer was an apothecary named Franklin, from whom the poison had been procured.

From Project Gutenberg

He is, perhaps, the only person not an apothecary hereabouts.

From Project Gutenberg