physic

[ fiz-ik ]

noun

1. a medicine that purges; cathartic; laxative.
2. any medicine; a drug or medicament.
3. Archaic. the medical art or profession.
4. Obsolete. natural science.

verb (used with object)

, phys·icked, phys·ick·ing.

1. to treat with or act upon as a physic or medicine.
2. to work upon as a medicine does; relieve or cure.

physic

/ ˈfɪzɪk /

noun

1. rare.
   a medicine or drug, esp a cathartic or purge
2. archaic.
   the art or skill of healing
3. an archaic term for physics

verb

1. archaic.
   tr to treat (a patient) with medicine

Derived Forms

• ˈphysicky, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of physic¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the noun) Middle English fisyk(e), phisik(e), from Old French fisique, from Latin physica “natural science” ( Medieval Latin: “medical science”), from Greek physikḗ “science of nature,” noun use of feminine form of physikós “pertaining to nature,” from phýs(is) physis + -ikos -ic; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of physic¹

C13: from Old French fisique, via Latin, from Greek phusikē, from phusis nature

Example Sentences

“I rather hope to satisfy you both,” said Emma, “for I shall do all in my power to make them happy, which will be enough for Isabella; and happiness must preclude false indulgence and physic.”

From Literature

So, too, in French you find ‘physic’ in the singular, not the plural, to mean natural science: e.g.

From Literature

It all started back in 1670, when two Edinburgh doctors - Robert Sibbald and Andrew Balfour - set up a physic garden, to explore the links between plants and medicine, for the benefit of society.

From BBC

Lord Sands in “Henry VIII”: ’Tis time to give ’em physic, their diseases are grown so catching.”

From Washington Post

It was nothing a good physic or a patent medicine wouldn’t take care of.

From Literature