physic

English

Alternative forms

• physick (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɪzɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɪzɪk

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Middle English phisik, from Latin physicus, from Ancient Greek φῠσῐκός (phusikós).

Adjective

physic (comparative more physic, superlative most physic)

1. Relating to or concerning existent materials; physical.

Etymology 2

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 φυσικός (phusikós, “natural”).

Noun

physic (countable and uncountable, plural physics)

1. (archaic, countable) A medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purgative.
   • 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:

     I ſhould not thinke it ſtrange, for 'tis a phyſicke / That's bitter, to ſweet end.

   • 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:

     Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Sirach 18:19:

     Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.

3. (archaic, uncountable) The art or profession of healing disease; medicine.
   • 1743, Stephen Hales, A Description of Ventilators p. xiii.

     ...and thus draw out all the unwholesome Air and Stench, which does more harm than any Physick can repair.

4. (archaic, uncountable) Natural philosophy; physics.
5. (obsolete) A physician.
   • 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:

     Desire is death, which physic did except.

Derived terms

• physician

Verb

physic (third-person singular simple present physics, present participle physicking, simple past and past participle physicked)

1. (transitive) To cure or heal.
   • 1637, Tho[mas] Heywood, “Ivpiter and Io”, in Pleasant Dialogues and Dramma’s, Selected out of Lucian, Erasmus, Textor, Ovid, &c. […], London: […] R. O[ulton] for R. H[earne], and are to be sold by Thomas Slater […], →OCLC, page 170:

     Wouldſt thou not haue ſome Bulchin from the herd / To phyſicke thee of this venereall itch?

2. (transitive) To administer medicine to, especially a purgative.
   • c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], lines 73-74:

     I will physic your rankness […]

   • 1987, Stephen King, The Tommyknockers:

     When she had been a little girl - a very little girl - her mother had once cried at Anne in utter exasperation, "You're so contrary cheese'd physic ya!"

Anagrams

• scyphi