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Physic vs Physical - What's the difference?

physic | physical |

In obsolete terms the difference between physic and physical

is that physic is a physician while physical is relating to physic, or medicine; medicinal; curative; also, cathartic; purgative.

As adjectives the difference between physic and physical

is that physic is relating to or concerning existent materials; physical while physical is having to do with the body.

As nouns the difference between physic and physical

is that physic is a medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purgative while physical is physical examination.

As a verb physic

is to cure or heal; to treat or administer medicine, especially to purge.

physic

English

Alternative forms

* physick (obsolete)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Relating to or concerning existent materials; physical.
  • Noun

  • (countable) A medicine or drug, especially a cathartic or purgative.
  • (uncountable) The art or profession of healing disease; medicine.
  • (obsolete) A physician.
  • (Shakespeare)

    Derived terms

    * physician

    Verb

  • To cure or heal; to treat or administer medicine, especially to purge.
  • physical

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having to do with the body.
  • Having to do with the material world.
  • * John Stuart Mill
  • Labour, in the physical world, is employed in putting objects in motion.
  • * Macaulay
  • A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force.
  • * {{quote-magazine, title=No hiding place
  • , date=2013-05-25, volume=407, issue=8837, page=74, magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result.}}
  • Involving bodily force.
  • Having to do with physics.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01, author=Michael Riordan, title=Tackling Infinity
  • , volume=100, issue=1, page=86, magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=Some of the most beautiful and thus appealing physical theories, including quantum electrodynamics and quantum gravity, have been dogged for decades by infinities that erupt when theorists try to prod their calculations into new domains. Getting rid of these nagging infinities has probably occupied far more effort than was spent in originating the theories.}}
  • (label)
  • (obsolete) Relating to physic, or medicine; medicinal; curative; also, cathartic; purgative.
  • * Sir T. North
  • Physical herbs.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Is Brutus sick? and is it physical / To walk unbraced, and suck up the humours / Of the dank morning?

    Antonyms

    * mental, psychological; having to do with the mind viewed as distinct from body.

    Derived terms

    * antiphysical * physical body * physical chemistry * physical education * physical examination * physical relations * physical therapy * physical world

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Physical examination.
  • How long has it been since your last physical ?

    Synonyms

    * checkup, check-up

    Statistics

    *