Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Medicine
Med′i-cine
,Noun.
1.
The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease.
2.
Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a medication; a drug; a pharmaceutical; a medicament; a remedy; physic.
By
medicine
, life may be prolonged. Shakespeare
3.
A philter or love potion.
[Obs.]
Shak.
4.
[F.
médecin
.] A physician.
[Obs.]
Shak.
Medicine bag
, a charm; – so called among the North American Indians, or in works relating to them.
– Medicine man
(among the North American Indians), a person who professes to cure sickness, drive away evil spirits, and regulate the weather by the arts of magic; a shaman.
– Medicine seal
, a small gem or paste engraved with reversed characters, to serve as a seal. Such seals were used by Roman physicians to stamp the names of their medicines.
Med′i-cine
,Verb.
T.
To give medicine to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy; to cure.
“Medicine thee to that sweet sleep.” Shak.
Webster 1828 Edition
Medicine
MED'ICINE
,Noun.
1.
Any substance, liquid or solid, that has the property of curing or mitigating disease in animals, or that is used for that purpose. Simples, plants and minerals furnish most of our medicines. Even poisons used with judgment and in moderation, are safe and efficacious medicines. Medicines are internal or external, simple or compound.2.
The art of preventing, curing or alleviating the diseases of the human body. Hence we say, the study of medicine, or a student of medicine.3.
In the French sense, a physician. [Not in use.]MED'ICINE
,Verb.
T.