pharmaceutical English · revision 15270

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing, derivation|attested=1648|origins=grc φάρμακον}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌfɑː.məˈs(j)uː.tɪ.kl̩/, /ˌfɑː.məˈkjuː.tɪ.kl̩/ ''(UK)''; /ˌfɑɹ.məˈs(j)u.tɪ.kl̩/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la-lat|pharmaceuticus|t=of drugs]] with the English suffix [[-al]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline) from [[grc|φαρμακευτικός|tr=pharmakeutikós]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|grc|φαρμακεύς|tr=pharmakeús|t=preparer of drugs, poisoner]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|grc|φάρμακον|tr=phármakon|t=drug]] (see [[pharmacy]]).^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to pharmacy or the art of preparing drugs: 1648 in the OED and Barnhart, the 1640s in Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1636.^(MWU 2024) The shorter pharmaceutic is from the 1540s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a medicinal drug, especially in the plural ''pharmaceuticals'', is attested by 1881.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The adverb pharmaceutically is from 1770.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1540s – pharmaceutic.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1648 – pharmaceutical (adjective).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1881 – a medicinal drug.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to [[pharmacy]], or to the preparation, use or sale of medicinal [[drug|alt=drugs]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A medicinal drug or preparation.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pharmaceutically]]

+ * [[cosmeceutical]]

+ * [[nutraceutical]]

+ * [[biopharmaceutical]]

+ * [[nonpharmaceutical]]

+ * [[radiopharmaceutical]]

+ * [[pharm]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pharmacy]]

+ * [[pharmacist]]

+ * [[pharmacology]]

+ * [[pharma]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}