Physic, fiz′ik, n. the science of medicine: the art of healing: a medicine: (orig.) natural philosophy, physics.—v.t. to give medicine to:—pr.p. phys′icking; pa.t. and pa.p. phys′icked.—ns. Physician (fi-zish′an), one skilled in the use of physic or the art of healing: one who prescribes remedies for diseases: a doctor.—ns. Physic′iancy, post or office of physician; Physic′ianship; Phys′ic-nut, Barbadoes or Purging nut, the seeds of Jatropha curcas.—Physic garden, a botanical garden. [O. Fr.,—Gr. physikē, natural—Gr. physis, nature.]
Physical, fiz′ik-al, adj. pertaining to nature or to natural objects: pertaining to material things: of or pertaining to natural philosophy: known to the senses: pertaining to the body.—n. Phys′icalist, one who thinks that human thought and action are determined by the physical organisation.—adv. Phys′ically.—ns. Phys′icism (-sizm), belief in the material or physical as opposed to the spiritual; Phys′icist (-sist), a student of nature: one versed in physics: a natural philosopher: one who believes that life is merely a form of physical energy.—Physical astronomy, an account of the causes of the motions of the heavenly bodies; Physical education, training of the bodily powers by exercise; Physical examination, an examination of the bodily state of a person; Physical force, force applied outwardly to the body, as distinguished from persuasion, &c.; Physical geography, an account of the state of the earth in its natural condition—its mountain-chains, ocean-currents, distribution of plants and animals, conditions of climate, &c.; Physical truth, the agreement of thought with what exists in nature; Physical world, the world of matter. [Gr. physikos—physis, nature.]
Physics, fiz′iks, n.pl. used as sing. (orig.) equivalent to Physical science—i.e. the science of the order of nature: usually sig. (as distinguished from chemistry) the study of matter and the general properties of matter as affected by energy or force—also called Natural philosophy.—ns. Physicolog′ic, logic illustrated by physics; Phys′ico-theol′ogy, theology illustrated by natural philosophy. [L. physica—Gr. physikē (theōria, theory)—physis, nature.]
Physiocracy, fiz-i-ok′rā-si, n. the economic doctrine of the physiocrats (François Quesnay, 1694-1744, and his followers), that society should be governed by a natural order inherent in itself, land and its products the only true source of wealth, direct taxation of land the only proper source of revenue.—n. Phys′iocrat, one who maintains these opinions.—adj. Physiocrat′ic.—n. Physioc′ratism. [Gr. physis, nature, kratein, to rule.]
Physiogeny, fiz-i-oj′e-ni, n. (biol.) the genesis of function—also Physiogen′esis.—adjs. Physiogenet′ic, Physiogen′ic.
Physiognomy, fiz-i-og′nō-mi, n. the art of judging the qualities of a character from the external appearance, especially from the countenance: expression of countenance: the face as an index of the mind: the general appearance of anything.—adjs. Physiognom′ic, -al.—adv. Physiognom′ically.—n.sing. Physiognom′ics (same as Physiognomy).—n. Physiog′nomist. [For physiognomony—Gr. physiognōmonia—physis, nature, gnōmōn, one who interprets—gnōnai, to know.]
Physiography, fiz-i-og′ra-fi, n. an exposition of the principles that underlie physical geography, and including the elements of physical science: an introduction to the study of nature: physical geography.—n. Physiog′rapher, one versed in physiography.—adjs. Physiograph′ic, -al. [Gr. physis, nature, graphein, to describe.]
Physiolatry, fiz-i-ol′a-tri, n. nature-worship.
Physiology, fiz-i-ol′ō-ji, n. the science of the nature and processes of life, of the vital phenomena of animals and plants and the functions of their parts—a branch of biology.—adjs. Physiolog′ic, -al.—adv. Physiolog′ically.—v.i. Physiol′ogise.—n. Physiol′ogist. [Gr. physis, nature, logos, science.]
Physiomedicalism, fiz-i-ō-med′i-kal-izm, n. the system of treating disease with only non-poisonous vegetable drugs.—n. Physiomed′icalist.