medicine

English

/ˈmed(ɪ).sɪn/, /ˈmɛ.dɪ.sɪn/, /ˈmɛ.də.sən/

noun
Definitions
  • A substance which specifically promotes healing when ingested or consumed in some way.
  • A treatment or cure.
  • The study of the cause, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease or illness.
  • The profession of physicians, surgeons and related specialisms; those who practice medicine.
  • Ritual magic used, as by a medicine man, to promote a desired outcome in healing, hunting, warfare etc.
  • Among the Native Americans, any object supposed to give control over natural or magical forces, to act as a protective charm, or to cause healing.
  • (obsolete) black Black magic, superstition.
  • (obsolete) A philter or love potion.
  • (obsolete) A physician.
  • (slang) recreational Recreational drugs, especially alcoholic drinks.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English medicin borrowed from Middle French medicine derived from Old French medecine derived from Latin medicīna (medicine, the healing art, a physician's shop, a remedy, cure, remedy, art of medicine) root from Proto-Indo-European *med- (measure, give advice, acquire, heal, possess, consider, control, advise, think about, decide, be in charge of, limit, reason, be in command).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*med-

Gloss

measure, give advice, acquire, heal, possess, consider, control, advise, think about, decide, be in charge of, limit, reason, be in command

Concept
Semantic Field

Spatial relations

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

理

Emoji
🌡️ 📏 📐

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms