Etymology Map
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Medicine

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the science of treating disease; a drug

Where does the word "medicine" come from? It comes from Latin medicina, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
medicina
Latin · ancient
"healing art"
from 'medicus', physician, from 'mederi', to heal
2
Stage 2 of 3
medecine
Old French · medieval
"medicine"
both the art and the remedy
3
Stage 3 of 3
medicine
English · 1200s
"healing"
'a taste of your own medicine' dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Medicine’s story begins in Latin: medicina meant “healing art.” From 'medicus', physician, from 'mederi', to heal. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as medecine. Both the art and the remedy. It reached English by 1200s as medicine. 'a taste of your own medicine' dates from the 1800s. Today, medicine means the science of treating disease; a drug.