Medicine

Medicine Med"i*cine, n. [L. medicina (sc. ars), fr. medicinus medical, fr. medicus: cf. F. m['e]decine. See {Medical}.] 1. The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease. [1913 Webster]

2. Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a medication; a medicament; a remedy; physic. [1913 Webster]

By medicine, life may be prolonged. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A philter or love potion. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. [F. m['e]decin.] A physician. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. (a) Among the North American Indians, any object supposed to give control over natural or magical forces, to act as a protective charm, or to cause healing; also, magical power itself; the potency which a charm, token, or rite is supposed to exert. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

The North American Indian boy usually took as his medicine the first animal of which he dreamed during the long and solitary fast that he observed at puberty. --F. H. Giddings. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] (b) Hence, a similar object or agency among other savages. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

6. Short for {Medicine man}. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

7. Intoxicating liquor; drink. [Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{Medicine bag}, a charm; -- so called among the North American Indians, or in works relating to them.

{Medicine man} (among the North American Indians), a person who professes to cure sickness, drive away evil spirits, and regulate the weather by the arts of magic; a shaman.

{Medicine seal}, a small gem or paste engraved with reversed characters, to serve as a seal. Such seals were used by Roman physicians to stamp the names of their medicines. [1913 Webster]