officinal
[ uh-fis-uh-nl ]
adjective
kept in stock by apothecaries, as a drug.: Compare magistral (def. 1).
recognized by a pharmacopoeia.
noun
an officinal medicine.
Origin of officinal
11710–20; <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
(of pharmaceutical products) available without prescription
(of a plant) having pharmacological properties
noun
an officinal preparation or plant
Origin of officinal
1C17: from Medieval Latin officīnālis, from Latin officīna workshop; see office
Derived forms of officinal
- officinally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse