medicine
medicine
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "medicine" is /ˈmɛdɪsɪn/.
Med-: /mɛd/ - The sounds are /m/, /ɛ/, /d/.
i-: /ɪ/ - The sound is /ɪ/.
cine: /sɪn/ - The sounds are /s/, /ɪ/, /n/.
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: medicine
Plural Noun: medicines
Adjective: medicinal
Adverb: medicinally (less common, often replaced by "as medicine" or "for medicinal purposes")
Verb: medicate (related verb, but "medicine" itself is not typically used as a verb)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: Any substance or preparation used for the treatment, cure, or prevention of disease; a drug or remedial agent.
Synonyms: drug, medication, remedy, cure, treatment, pharmaceutical
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "poison" or "toxin" are opposite in effect but not in category.)
Definition 2: The science and art of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease and maintaining health; the practice of healthcare.
Synonyms: healthcare, healing, therapeutics, medical practice
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "illness" or "disease" are the focus of medicine, not its opposite.)
Definition 3: Something that provides relief, comfort, or a beneficial effect, especially for a personal or emotional ailment.
Synonyms: balm, solace, comfort, therapy, panacea (if it's a universal remedy)
Antonyms: burden, affliction, distress, torment
Examples of Use
Books:
"The story highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by doctors in determining the right course of medicine for critically ill patients." (From The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee)
"She found solace in literature, considering a good book to be the best medicine for a troubled mind."
Newspapers:
"New guidelines for over-the-counter medicine sales were announced by the Ministry of Health." (Reported in The Daily Nation)
"Experts debated the future of traditional medicine in modern healthcare systems." (Featured in The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Telehealth is revolutionizing access to medicine for rural communities, bridging geographical gaps." (As seen on WebMD)
"The article explored the cultural significance of herbal medicine in various indigenous societies." (Published on National Geographic online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series: "In the latest episode, Dr. Anya Sharma developed a groundbreaking new medicine to combat a rare tropical disease." (As heard on Grey's Anatomy, Season 20, Episode 12)
Film: "The protagonist’s quest for a forgotten ancient medicine forms the central plot of the historical drama." (Dialogue from The Physician)
Music: "Laughter is the best medicine, a universal truth that always brings joy." (Lyrics from a popular song)
Podcasts: "This week's podcast discusses the latest advancements in personalized medicine and gene therapy." (From The Peter Attia Drive Podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"My grandmother always told me that a strong cup of ginger tea was good medicine for a cold." (Common conversational usage)
"After a long day, a good night's sleep is just the medicine I need." (Everyday expression)
"He had to take his medicine every morning to manage his high blood pressure." (Referring to prescription drugs)
10 Quotes Using Medicine
"Laughter is the best medicine." (Proverb)
"The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." (Voltaire)
"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." While not directly using the word, the sentiment implies a form of preventative medicine. (Benjamin Franklin)
"Hope is the only universal medicine." (Ambrose Bierce)
"Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity." (Hippocrates)
"Our bodies are our gardens, to which our wills are gardeners. So that if we will plant nettles instead of flowers, or sow lettuce instead of carrots, we may blame none but our selves. Therefore, our medicine is within us." (William Shakespeare, Othello)
"To study the abnormal is the best way of understanding the normal." This quote by William James is often applied to the field of medicine.
"Man is the best medicine for man." (Latin Proverb)
"The greatest mistake in the treatment of diseases is that there are physicians for the body and physicians for the soul, although the two cannot be separated." This quote from Plato highlights a holistic view of medicine.
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." (Thomas Edison)
Etymology
The word "medicine" has a fascinating history that goes back to ancient Latin.
It comes from the Latin word "medicina," which meant "the healing art" or "a remedy." This Latin term itself was derived from "medicus," meaning "a physician" or "doctor."
If you go even further back, the root of these words seems to be an ancient Indo-European root "med-" which had to do with taking appropriate measures, being mindful, or even advising. So, the very idea of medicine is connected to thoughtfulness, wisdom, and taking action to fix things.
The first known use of "medicine" in English, according to historical records, was around 1200 AD. At that time, it was used to mean "medical treatment, cure, or healing." Soon after, in the early 1300s, it also started to refer to the actual "substance used in the treatment of a disease, like a medicinal potion or plaster."
So, from its earliest days, "medicine" has been about both the practice of healing and the things used to achieve that healing.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Medicine
A dose of your own medicine: To experience the same unpleasant treatment that one has given to others.
To taste one's own medicine: Same meaning as above.
Laughter is the best medicine: Humor and cheerfulness are very effective in improving one's health or mood.
To take one's medicine: To accept an unpleasant but necessary consequence or punishment without complaint.
A bitter pill (to swallow): While not directly using "medicine," it refers to an unpleasant or difficult fact or situation that must be accepted. This is a common idiom related to the concept.
Good medicine: Something that has a beneficial effect, especially on one's mood or well-being.
To be in medicine: To work in the medical profession.
Prescription medicine: Medication that requires a doctor's prescription.
Over-the-counter medicine: Medication that can be bought without a prescription.
Alternative medicine: Medical practices that are not part of conventional medicine.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of medicine from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
