physical English · revision 3050

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1425|origins=grc φύσις}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|phisicale|t=medical]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|la-med|physicālis|t=of nature, natural; medicinal]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|physica|t=the study of nature]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from Greek [[grc|φυσική|tr=phusikḗ]], from [[m|grc|φύσις|tr=phúsis|t=nature]], the source of [[physic]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Medical”, as distinguished from surgical: probably before 1425, in a translation of Chauliac's ''Grande Chirurgie'',^(Barnhart 1988) the early 15th century;^(Etymonline) this sense is now obsolete.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The meaning “relating to natural science, according to the laws of nature” is from 1580,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and “pertaining to matter, material”, perceived by the senses, from 1597, in Hooker's ''Ecclesiastical Polity''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Johnson (1755) defined it as “relating to nature or to natural philosophy; not moral”.^(Johnson 1755) The sense “having to do with the body, bodily”, as opposed to mental or moral, is first attested in 1780, in Bentham.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) “Bodily aggressive or violent”, as in ''the game got physical'', is from 1970.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Physical education'' is recorded from 1838 and ''phys ed'' by 1955,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and ''physical therapy'' from 1922.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The noun, short for ''physical examination'', is from 1934.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1425 – medical.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1580 – of natural science.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1597 – material.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1780 – bodily.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1838 – ''physical education''.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1922 – ''physical therapy''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1934 – noun, a medical examination.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1970 – bodily aggressive.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the [[body]] rather than the mind or spirit.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Involving vigorous bodily activity or contact; rough or violent.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Of material things; that can be seen or touched.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of matter and energy, or of [[physics]] and the other natural sciences.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(informal)'' Sexual: ''physical attraction''.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A medical [[examination]] to check a person's health.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[physicality]]

+ * [[physically]]

+ * [[physicalness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[metaphysical]]

+ * [[physician]]

+ * [[physics]]

+ * [[physic]]

+ * [[physique]]

+ * [[physiology]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In older Scots ''physical'' meant “medical, of drugs”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}