pharmacy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A shop where medicines are prepared and sold.

   I picked up my prescription at the pharmacy on the way home.

2. 2
   noun

   The study and science of preparing medicines.

   She is studying pharmacy at university.

Simplified etymology

Pharmacy came from Old French farmacie through medieval Latin, ultimately from Greek pharmakeia, “the practice of the druggist,” based on pharmakon, “drug.” It originally referred to the administration of drugs.

From Middle English pharmacy, borrowed from Middle French pharmacie (“the art of creating drugs; a drug, especially a laxative”), from Old French farmacie, from Medieval Latin pharmacia, from Ancient Greek φαρμακεία (pharmakeía, “the use of drugs”), from φάρμακον (phármakon, “a drug, charm, enchantment”), of uncertain but likely Pre-Greek origin. Attested since late 14th century.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary