physic

1 of 2

noun

phys·​ic ˈfi-zik 

1

a

: the art or practice of healing disease

b

: the practice or profession of medicine

2

: a medicinal agent or preparation

especially : purgative

3

archaic : natural science

physic

2 of 2

verb

physicked; physicking

transitive verb

1

: to treat with or administer medicine to

especially : purge

2

: heal, cure

Synonyms

Noun

• cure
• drug
• medicament
• medication
• medicinal
• medicine
• pharmaceutical
• remedy
• specific

Examples of physic in a Sentence

Noun

the museum has an exhibit on some of the strange physics that were once used to cure disease

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English physik natural science, art of medicine, from Anglo-French phisique, fisik, from Latin physica, singular, natural science, from Greek physikē, from feminine of physikos — more at physics

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

physic

noun

phys·​ic

ˈfiz-ik

: a remedy for disease

especially : a strong laxative

Medical Definition

physic

1 of 2 noun

phys·​ic ˈfiz-ik 

1

a

: the art or practice of healing disease

b

: the practice or profession of medicine

2

: a medicinal agent or preparation

especially : purgative

physic

2 of 2 transitive verb

physicked; physicking

: to treat with or administer medicine to

especially : purge