apothecary English · revision 1177

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈpɒθəkəɹi/ ''(UK)''; /əˈpɑθəˌkɛəɹi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''apotecarie'',^(AHD)^(Etymonline) [[der|fro|apotecaire]]^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) and [[der|la-med|apothecarius|t=seller of spices and drugs]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Late Latin ''apothēcārius'' “storekeeper”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la|apotheca|t=storehouse]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|ἀποθήκη|tr=apothḗkē|t=storehouse, barn]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) literally “a place where things are put away”.^(Etymonline) The same Latin word gave French [[boutique]], Spanish [[bodega]] and German ''Apotheke''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A shopkeeper who kept spices, drugs, preserves and other non-perishable goods (mid-14th century);^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the OED's first quotation for one who prepares and sells drugs is from 1366.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Because drugs and herbs were among the chief non-perishable goods, the meaning narrowed to druggist in the 17th century;^(Etymonline) the Apothecaries' Company of London separated from the Grocers' in 1617.^(Etymonline) The modern spelling is a classical correction from about 1600.^(Etymonline) The OED notes that the business has been conducted by pharmaceutical chemists since about 1800,^(OED 1989) and in Britain and Ireland an apothecary was also a druggist licensed to prescribe.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * mid-14th century – ''apotecarie'', a storekeeper.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1366 – one who prepares and sells drugs.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1600 – spelling ''apothecary''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1617 – the Apothecaries' Company of London.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who prepares and sells drugs and medicines; a [[pharmacist]] or [[druggist]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A [[pharmacy]] or drugstore.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In Britain and Ireland, a druggist licensed to prescribe medicine.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bibliotheca]]

+ * [[hypothec]]

+ * [[hypothecate]]

+ * [[theca]]

+ * [[boutique]]

+ * [[bodega]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}