medicinallyadv.
/mᵻˈdɪsn̩l̩i/, /mᵻˈdɪsn̩əli/, /mᵻˈdɪsᵻnl̩i/, /mᵻˈdɪsᵻnəli/, U.S. /məˈdɪsənəli/, /məˈdɪsn̩əli/, /mɛˈdɪsənəli/, /mɛˈdɪsn̩əli/ 1. For a medicinal purpose; with a medicinal effect. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > [adverb]
medicinallya1398
wholesomelya1398
physiclike1581
curatively1685
healingly1864
therapeutically1875
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 206v It [sc. brimstone]..helpeþ hem þat haueþ þe..palsye if þe remedye þer of is y-vsed in due manere and medicynaliche [L. medicinaliter].
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 83 They gaue it medicinally to them which were sicke of the Ptisicke.
1682 J. Dryden Medall 10 The Witnesses, that, Leech-like, liv'd on bloud, Sucking for them were med'cinally good.
a1711 T. Ken Anodynes in Wks. (1721) III. 452 Thy Love, Lord, I in Pains perceiv'd, And sing thy Love when med'cinally griev'd.
1773 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. (ed. 4) at Bleed To lose blood medicinally.
1785 T. Martyn tr. J.-J. Rousseau Lett. Elements Bot. xii. 130 An infusion of it is sometimes used medicinally.
1836 J. M. Gully tr. F. Magendie Formulary (ed. 2) 23 It is now..fifteen years since I first used..the muriate of morphia medicinally.
1884 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 520 Nitroglycerin is applied medicinally..in cases of heart disease.
1932 J. M. Watt & M. G. Breyer-Brandwijk Med. & Poisonous Plants S. Afr. 140 Sagewood, Saliehout,..is possibly used medicinally by the Hottentots.
1975 H. Oka How to wrap Five more Eggs 193/1 Ginger, which has been used medicinally from the earliest times, is believed to ward off evil.
1993 New Republic 19 Apr. 14/1 Alkaloids such as morphine and nicotine are commonly found in the tropics, as are other medicinally useful compounds.
2. From the point of view of medical science or practice; in the practice of medicine. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > art or science of medicine > [adverb]
physically1582
medicinally1621
medically1646
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (title page) The Anatomy of Melancholy..Philosophically, Medicinally, Historically opened.
1632 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 4) Democritus to Rdr. 76 My purpose..is..to anatomise this humour of Melancholy..and that philosophically, medicinally, to shew the causes,..and seuerall cures of it.
1716 M. Davies Athenæ Britannicæ II. 395 Medicinally Charitable to the Publick by his Spagyrick Repositary.
a1797 E. Burke Thoughts on Scarcity (1800) 43 I consider..the stopping of the distillery, oeconomically, financially, commercially, medicinally, and in some degree morally too, as a measure rather well meant than well considered.
1846 E. A. Poe J. W. Francis in Wks. (1864) III. 38 Connected in some manner with everything that has been well said or done medicinally in America.
1885 H. M. Milner Turpin's Ride to York ii. vi. 11/1 Sim...What is your opinion of the liquor? Sam. Are you asking medicinally?
1994 Fort Collins (Colorado) Triangle Rev. 6 Jan. 7 Read the label. And be medicinally correct.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.a1398