physic

Etymology 1

From Middle English phisik, from Latin physicus, from Ancient Greek φῠσῐκός (phusikós, “natural; physical”), from φύσις (phúsis, “origin, birth; nature, quality; form, shape; type, kind”), from φῠ́ω (phúō, “grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).

adj

1. Relating to or concerning existent materials; physical.

Etymology 2

From Middle English fysike (noun) and phisiken, fisike (verb; from the noun), from Old French fisike (“natural science, art of healing”), from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσική (phusikḗ), feminine singular of φῠσῐκός (phusikós, “natural; physical”), see above.

noun

1. (archaic, countable) A medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purgative.
2. (archaic, uncountable) The art or profession of healing disease; medicine.
   ...and thus draw out all the unwholesome Air and Stench, which does more harm than any Physick can repair. 1743, Stephen Hales, A Description of Ventilators, page xiii
3. (archaic, uncountable) Natural philosophy; physics.
4. (obsolete) A physician.

verb

1. (transitive) To cure or heal.
2. (transitive) To administer medicine to, especially a purgative.
   When she had been a little girl - a very little girl - her mother had once cried at Anne in utter exasperation, "You're so contrary cheese'd physic ya!" 1987, Stephen King, The Tommyknockers