physic
nounEtymology From Middle English fysike (noun) and phisiken, fisike (verb; from the noun), from Old French fisike (“natural science, art of healing”), from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσική (phusikḗ), feminine singular of φῠσῐκός (phŭsĭkós, “natural; physical”), see above.
1
Archaic A medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purgative.
- Harke yee Lords, you ſee I haue giuen her Phiſicke, / And you muſt needs beſtovv her Funerall, […]c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], signature [G4], recto:
- I ſhould not thinke it ſtrange, for 'tis a phyſicke / That's bitter, to ſweet end.c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi], page 79, column 2:
2 more examples
- Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief.1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 34”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
- Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Sirach 18:19:
2
Archaic The art or profession of healing disease; medicine.
- ...and thus draw out all the unwholesome Air and Stench, which does more harm than any Physick can repair.1743, Stephen Hales, A Description of Ventilators, page xiii:
3
Archaic Natural philosophy; physics.
- When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my Father; where, by the Aſſiſtance of him and my Uncle John, and ſome other Relations, I got forty Pounds, and a Promiſe of thirty Pounds a year to maintain me at Leyden: there I ſtudied Phyſick two years and ſeven months, knowing it would be uſeful in long Voyages.1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Gives Some Account of Himself and Family, His First Inducements to Travel. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 2:
4
Obsolete A physician.
- Desire is death, which physic did except.1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 147”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:
- Derived terms
- Culver's physic, metaphysic, nonphysic, otophysic, physically, physic finger, physic garden, physician, physicism, physicker, physicky, physic nut