physic

• physick (obsolete)

Middle English fysike, from Old French fisike (“natural science, art of healing”), from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσικός (phusikós, “natural”)

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɪzɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɪzɪk

physic (comparative more physic, superlative most physic)

1. Relating to or concerning existent materials; physical.

physic (countable and uncountable, plural physics)

1. (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.

2. (archaic, uncountable) The art or profession of healing disease; medicine.
3. (archaic, uncountable) Natural philosophy; physics.
4. (obsolete) A physician.
   • 1609, William Shakespeare, Sonnet 147:

     Desire is death, which physic did except.

• physician

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

1. (transitive) To cure or heal.
2. (transitive) To administer medicine to, especially a purgative.

• scyphi