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Placebo

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a substance with no active therapeutic effect, given to satisfy a patient's expectation of treatment
1
Stage 1 of 2
placebo
Latin · ancient
"I shall please"
literally I shall please, originally a funeral vespers phrase
2
Stage 2 of 2
placebo
English · 1780s
"a substance with no therapeutic effect given for psychological benefit"
adopted for a medically inactive treatment given to please or reassure a patient
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