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physic

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physic¹

  • /ˈfɪz.ɪk/ Australia, Canada, US, UK, Scotland
  • /ˈfəz.ək/ New Zealand
  • /ˈfiz.ik/ India

Rhymes with -ɪzɪk

Where it comes from

From Middle English phisik, from Latin physicus, from Ancient Greek φῠσῐκός (phŭsĭkós, “natural; physical”), from φύσις (phúsis, “origin, birth; nature, quality; form, shape; type, kind”), from φῠ́ω (phŭ́ō, “grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).

adjective more physic · most physic · phisicke · physick

  1. Relating to or concerning existent materials; physical.

physic²

  • /ˈfɪz.ɪk/ Australia, Canada, US, UK, Scotland
  • /ˈfəz.ək/ New Zealand
  • /ˈfiz.ik/ India

Rhymes with -ɪzɪk

Where it comes from

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.

noun physics · phisicke · physick

  1. archaic, countable 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, […]
  2. archaic, uncountable 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.
  3. archaic, uncountable 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 Voy
  4. countable, obsolete, uncountable A physician. Desire is death, which physic did except.

verb physics · physicking · physicked · phisicke · physick

  1. transitive To cure or heal. 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. I will physic your rankness […]

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