Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Materia medica

noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Synonym of pharmacology, particularly its development in early modern Europe. archaic, historical, uncountable

    "Later on, in the Middle Ages, medical knowledge advanced to such an extent that textbooks on materia medica and germane subjects often treated this area of erotica."

  2. 2
    Synonym of medicine: the substances so used, particularly traditional cures prepared from animals and plants such as herbal medicines but inclusive of early drugs. archaic, historical, plural, plural-only

    "CHIAN earth, in pharmacy, one of the medicinal earths of the ancients, the name of which is preſerved in the catalogues of the materia medica but of which nothing more than the name has been known for many ages in the ſhops..."

  3. 3
    the science or study of drugs: their preparation and properties and uses and effects wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin materia (“material”) + medica (“curative, medical”).

Etymology 2

From Latin materia (“material”) + medica (“curative, medical”).

See also for "materia medica"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Want a quick game? Try Word Finder.