physic
English
Alternative forms
- physick (obsolete)
Etymology
Middle English fysike, from Old French fisike (“natural science, art of healing”), from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσικός (phusikós, “natural”)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfɪzɪk/
- Rhymes: -ɪzɪk
Adjective
Noun
physic (countable and uncountable, plural physics)
- (archaic, countable) A medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purgative.
- 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 34:
- Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief.
- 1609, King James Version, Sirach 18:19:
- Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.
- 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 34:
- (archaic, uncountable) The art or profession of healing disease; medicine.
- (archaic, uncountable) Natural philosophy; physics.
- (obsolete) A physician.
- 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 147:
- Desire is death, which physic did except.
- 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 147:
Derived terms
Verb
physic (third-person singular simple present physics, present participle physicking, simple past and past participle physicked)
Anagrams
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