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medicine

med·i·cine [ méddəssin ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. drug for treating illness: a drug or remedy used for treating illness
cough medicine

2. treatment of illness: the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, wounds, and injuries

3. treatment using drugs: the treatment of illness or injury using drugs rather than surgery

4. medical profession: the profession of treating illness as a doctor

5. cultural anthropology ritual practice or sacred object: a ritual practice or sacred object believed, especially by Native North Americans, to control supernatural powers or to work as a preventive or remedy of illness

[12th century. Directly or via French< Latin medicina "practice of medicine" < medicus "doctor" < mederi "heal"]

a dose or taste of your own medicine unpleasant treatment of the same kind that you have given others (informal)

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