officinal

[ uh-fis-uh-nl ]

adjective
  1. kept in stock by apothecaries, as a drug.: Compare magistral (def. 1).

  2. recognized by a pharmacopoeia.

noun
  1. an officinal medicine.

Origin of officinal

1
1710–20; <Medieval Latin officīnālis of a store or workshop, equivalent to Latin officīn(a) workshop, presumably contraction of opificīna (opific-, stem of opifex artisan, equivalent to opi-, combining form akin to opus work + -fic-, combining form of facere to make, do1 + -īna-ine1; cf. office) + -ālis-al1

Other words from officinal

  • of·fic·i·nal·ly, adverb
  • non·of·fic·i·nal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for officinal

officinal

/ (ɒˈfɪsɪnəl, ˌɒfɪˈsaɪnəl) pharmacol obsolete /


adjective
  1. (of pharmaceutical products) available without prescription

  2. (of a plant) having pharmacological properties

noun
  1. an officinal preparation or plant

Origin of officinal

1
C17: from Medieval Latin officīnālis, from Latin officīna workshop; see office

Derived forms of officinal

  • officinally, adverb

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