Medicine man

Medicine man
Medicine Med"i*cine, n. [L. medicina (sc. ars), fr. medicinus medical, fr. medicus: cf. F. m['e]decine. See {Medical}.] 1. The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease. [1913 Webster]

2. Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a medication; a medicament; a remedy; physic. [1913 Webster]

By medicine, life may be prolonged. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. A philter or love potion. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. [F. m['e]decin.] A physician. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. (a) Among the North American Indians, any object supposed to give control over natural or magical forces, to act as a protective charm, or to cause healing; also, magical power itself; the potency which a charm, token, or rite is supposed to exert. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

The North American Indian boy usually took as his medicine the first animal of which he dreamed during the long and solitary fast that he observed at puberty. --F. H. Giddings. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] (b) Hence, a similar object or agency among other savages. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

6. Short for {Medicine man}. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

7. Intoxicating liquor; drink. [Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{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; a shaman.

{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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Medicine Man — Données clés Réalisation John McTiernan Scénario Tom Schulman Sally Robinson Sociétés de production Cinergi Pictures Hollywood Pictures Sortie 1992 Durée …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Medicine Man — Solicita una imagen para este artículo. Título Los últimos días del Edén El Curandero de la Selva Ficha técnica …   Wikipedia Español

  • medicine-man — ● medicine man, medicine mans ou medicine men nom masculin (anglais medicine, qui sert à traiter, et man, homme) Sorcier qui pratique les rites de passage dans les sociétés non industrielles …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • medicine man — or medicine .woman n a person in a Native American tribe who is considered to have the ability to cure illness and disease →↑shaman, witch doctor ↑witch doctor …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • medicine man — ► NOUN ▪ (among North American Indians) a shaman. ORIGIN from medicine in the sense spell or charm believed to have healing or magical power …   English terms dictionary

  • medicine man — ☆ medicine man n. among North American Indians, etc., a man believed to have supernatural powers of curing disease and controlling spirits; shaman …   English World dictionary

  • medicine man — medicine ,man noun count a NATIVE AMERICAN who is believed to be able to control the powers of the spiritual world and cure and prevent illness …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Medicine man — This article is about the Native American healers. For the American film, see Medicine Man (film). Yup ik shaman exorcising evil spirits from a sick boy. Nushagak, Alaska, 1890s.[1] Medicine man or Medi …   Wikipedia

  • Medicine Man — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel Medicine Man – Die letzten Tage von Eden Originaltitel Medicine Man …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • medicine man — 1. (among North American Indians and some other aboriginal peoples) a person believed to possess magical or supernatural powers; shaman. 2. a seller of patent medicine, esp. before 1900, presenting a medicine show to attract customers. [1795… …   Universalium

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