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Definition of officinal


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of·fic·i·nal  audio  (-fs-nl, ôf-snl, f-) KEY  

ADJECTIVE:
  1. Readily available in pharmacies; not requiring special preparation.
  2. Recognized by a pharmacopoeia: an officinal herb.
NOUN:
An officinal drug.

ETYMOLOGY:
French, from Medieval Latin officnlis, of a storeroom or workshop, from Latin officna, workshop, alteration of opificna, from opifex , opific-, workman : opus, work; see op- in Indo-European roots + facere, to do; see dh- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
of·fici·nal·ly (Adverb)


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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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