physic

comparative more physic · superlative most physic · alternative phisicke · alternative physick

1. Relating to or concerning existent materials; physical.

plural physics · alternative phisicke · alternative physick

1. archaiccountableA medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purgative.

   Nor can thy shame give physic to my grief.

   1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 34”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC

   3 more examples

   Harke yee Lords, you ſee I haue giuen her Phiſicke, / And you muſt needs beſtovv her Funerall, […]

   c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], signature [G4], recto

   I ſhould not thinke it ſtrange, for 'tis a phyſicke / That's bitter, to ſweet end.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi], page 79, column 2

   Learn before thou speak, and use physick or ever thou be sick.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Sirach 18:19

2. archaicuncountableThe 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.

   1743, Stephen Hales, A Description of Ventilators, page xiii

3. archaicuncountableNatural philosophy; physics.

   1 more example

   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 Voyages.

   1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Gives Some Account of Himself and Family, His First Inducements to Travel. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 2

4. countableobsoleteuncountableA physician.

   Desire is death, which physic did except.

   1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 147”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC

present singular third person physics · participle present physicking · participle past physicked · past physicked · alternative phisicke · alternative physick

1. transitiveTo cure or heal.

   Wouldſt thou not haue ſome Bulchin from the herd / To phyſicke thee of this venereall itch?

   1637, Tho[mas] Heywood, “Ivpiter and Io”, in Pleasant Dialogues and Dramma’s, Selected out of Lucian, Erasmus, Textor, Ovid, &c. […], London: […] R. O[ulton] for R. H[earne], and are to be sold by Thomas Slater […], →OCLC, page 170

2. transitiveTo administer medicine to, especially a purgative.

   I will physic your rankness […]

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], lines 73-74

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   When she had been a little girl - a very little girl - her mother had once cried at Anne in utter exasperation, "You're so contrary cheese'd physic ya!"

   1987, Stephen King, The Tommyknockers