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physic

1. The art of healing diseases; the science of medicine; the theory or practice of medicine. A doctor of physik.

2. A specific internal application for the cure or relief of sickness; a remedy for disease; a medicine.

3. Specifically, a medicine that purges; a cathartic.

4. A physician.

(Science: botany) Physic nut, a small tropical American euphorbiaceous tree (jatropha Curcas), and its seeds, which are well flavored, but contain a drastic oil which renders them dangerous if eaten in large quantities.

Origin: OE. Phisike, fisike, OF. Phisique, F. Physique knowledge of nature, physics, L. Physica, physice, fr. Gr, fr. Natural, from nature, fr. To produce, grow, akin to E. Be. See Be, and cf. Physics, Physique.

1. To treat with physic or medicine; to administer medicine to, especially. A cathartic; to operate on as a cathartic; to purge.

2. To work on as a remedy; to heal; to cure. The labour we delight in physics pain. (Shak) A mind diseased no remedy can physic. (Byron)

Origin: Physiced; Physicking.