What is the Origin of the word medicine?

Answer 1

Medicine comes to English from the Latin, "medicina" and refers to the art practiced by the "medicus" or physician. The Latin word itself may well derive originally from the root "media" referring to a middle way, or balance, since in classical Greek medicine (that which was known and practiced in the Roman world) health was a matter of balance, and disease was understood as an imbalance of the body (or of the bodily fluids, called "humours"). This balance could be restored by a "medicus" who would use herbs or prepared drugs to do so. However, in classical texts "medicus" can also refer to a surgeon. As an interesting corollary, "medicus" is also the word for the fourth finger of the hand. According to one explanation, this finger was used by the medicus for mixing potions, etc.

Answer 2

drug

1327, from O.Fr. drouge, perhaps from M.Du. or M.L.G. droge-vate "dry barrels," with first element mistaken as word for the contents (see dry goods), or because medicines mostly consisted of dried herbs. Application to "narcotics and opiates" is 1883, though association with "poisons" is 1500s. The verb is from 1605. Druggie first recorded 1968. Drug-store is 1810; drug-store cowboy is 1925, Amer.Eng. slang, originally one who dressed like a Westerner but obviously wasn't. To be a drug on or in the market (c.1661) is of doubtful connection and may be a different word, perhaps drag, which was sometimes drug c.1240-1800.

Source: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=drug

Answer 3

The English word drug derives from Old French drogue or droge, meaning a supply, a stock, or a provision.

This word entered English quite late (early in the 1300s) referring to medicines or chemical ingredients, or the dried herbs used in their preparation.

The earlier medieval term had been messine, mecine or mescine, Anglo-Norman French for medicine.

Answer 4

Pharm is a root for words involving drugs or sorcery. That yields words such as pharmacy and pharmaceuticals.