Med"i*cine, n. 1.
(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.
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.
(b) Hence, a similar object or agency among
other savages.
2. Short for Medicine man.
3. Intoxicating liquor; drink.
[Slang]
Med"i*cine (?), 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.
2. Any substance administered in the
treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a remedy; physic.
By medicine, life may be
prolonged.
Shak.
3. A philter or love potion. [Obs.]
Shak.
4. [F. médecin.] A
physician. [Obs.] Shak.
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. --
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.
Med"i*cine, v. t. To give medicine
to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy; to cure.
"Medicine thee to that sweet sleep." Shak.
Med"i*cine, n. 1.
(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.
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.
(b) Hence, a similar object or agency among
other savages.
2. Short for Medicine man.
3. Intoxicating liquor; drink.
[Slang]
