medicine

n. [ L. medicina (sc. ars), fr. medicinus medical, fr. medicus: cf. F. médecine. 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 drug; a pharmaceutical; 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. médecin. ] 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 ]