Etymology of Some Terms

Dr.Abhilash S.
Medical Officer (Homoeo)
Govt. of Kerala

Word Origin Other Terms Remarks

Drug French: droge; "supply, stock, Dutch/German :droge-vate "dry barrels,"
provision" droge waere, literally "dry wares,"

Logic Greek :logos: reason, idea, word French: logique

logike (techne):reasoning (art) Latin : logica

Materia Medica Latin: medical matter

Medicine Latin: medicina :the healing art French: medecine
Miasm Greek :miasma (genitive miasmatos) Modern Latin miasma "noxious vapors," The idea of bad air gave
;stain, pollution, defilement, taint of Earlier Latin form :miasm rise to the
guilt, from stem of miainein "to pollute French: miasme. name malaria through
medieval Italian.
Nosode Greek: nosos; disease
Organon Greek :organon;implement, tool for Latin: organa, plural of organum "a musical
making or doing; musical instrument; instrument,"
 Old English; organ: musical instrument
Old French :orgene :musical instrument

Pharmacy Greek: pharmakon;drug, poison, Old French: farmacie;a purgative

philter, charm, spell, enchantment. Medieval Latin: pharmacia
Pharmakeia:use of drugs, medicines,
potions, or spells; poisoning, witchcraft;
remedy, cure
Placebo Latin: placebo;I shall please Medical sense is first
placere "to please" (see please). recorded 1785, "a
medicine given more to
please than to benefit the
patient."
Placebo effect attested
from 1950.
Psora Greek :psorian ;to have the itch
Psora;itch, mange, scab
related to psen:to rub
Repertory Latin: repertus, past participle Late Latin :repertorium;inventory, list
of reperire ;to find, get, invent
Rubric Latin: rubrica;red ochre, red coloring French: rubrique, rubriche;rubric, title Rubric refers to
matter decorative text or
instructions in medieval
documents that were
penned in red ink
Symptom Greek: symptoma: a happening, Medieval Latin : sinthoma
accident, disease Late Latin : symptoma
Middle English: sinthoma
Spelling altered in English by influence of Middle
French and Late Latin forms

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