Antonyms for medicine


Grammar : Noun
Spell : med-uh-sin or, esp. British, med-suhn
Phonetic Transcription : ˈmɛd ə sɪn or, esp. British, ˈmɛd sən


Definition of medicine

Origin :
  • c.1200, "medical treatment, cure, remedy," also used figuratively, of spiritual remedies, from Old French medecine (Modern French médicine) "medicine, art of healing, cure, treatment, potion," from Latin medicina "the healing art, medicine; a remedy," also used figuratively, perhaps originally ars medicina "the medical art," from fem. of medicinus (adj.) "of a doctor," from medicus "a physician" (see medical); though OED finds evidence for this is wanting. Meaning "a medicinal potion or plaster" in English is mid-14c.
  • To take (one's) medicine "submit to something disagreeable" is first recorded 1865. North American Indian medicine-man "shaman" is first attested 1801, from American Indian adoption of the word medicine in sense of "magical influence." The U.S.-Canadian boundary they called Medicine Line (first attested 1910), because it conferred a kind of magic protection: punishment for crimes committed on one side of it could be avoided by crossing over to the other. Medicine show "traveling show meant to attract a crowd so patent medicine can be sold to them" is American English, 1938. Medicine ball "stuffed leather ball used for exercise" is from 1889.
  • It is called a "medicine ball" and it got that title from Prof. Roberts, now of Springfield, whose fame is widespread, and whose bright and peculiar dictionary of terms for his prescription department in physical culture is taught in every first-class conducted Y.M.C.A. gymnasium in America. Prof. Roberts calls it a "medicine ball" because playful exercise with it invigorates the body, promotes digestion, and restores and preserves one's health. ["Scientific American Supplement," March 16, 1889]
  • noun cure
Example sentences :
  • Beatrice, what have you done with my new bottle of medicine?
  • Extract from : « Life and Death of Harriett Frean » by May Sinclair
  • Then she exchanged it for one of the same size on the medicine tray.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • There was a mistake about the medicine, and she was blamed; that's all.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • "It was the dark-eyed one that changed the medicine on me," he said.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • But let us reason together, brother; don't you believe at all in medicine?
  • Extract from : « The Imaginary Invalid » by Molire
  • It is not the doctors themselves that he takes off, but the absurdity of medicine.
  • Extract from : « The Imaginary Invalid » by Molire
  • He must desire and seek the medicine, and have it brought to him.
  • Extract from : « An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism » by Joseph Stump
  • The medicine (God's grace) is made known to us in the Creed.
  • Extract from : « An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism » by Joseph Stump
  • Nobody spoke until it was back again in the Medicine bundle.
  • Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin
  • As we crossed the creek Suh-tai made a line and said the words that made it Medicine.
  • Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin

Synonyms for medicine

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019