1651, "curing, relieving," from L. remedialis "healing, curing," from L. remedium (see remedy). Educational sense of "concerned with improving skills" is first recorded 1924.
Main Entry: re·me·di·al Pronunciation: ri-'mEd-E-&l Function: adjective : affording a remedy : intended as a remedy<remedial surgery> —re·me·di·al·ly/-E/adverb