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. Shak.
4. [F. médecin.] A physician. 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.