I. -dē, -di noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English remedie, from Anglo-French, from Latin remedium from remederi to heal again, cure, from re- + mederi to heal — more at medical
1. : something that relieves or cures a disease : a medicine or application that serves or helps to terminate disease and restore health
2. : something that corrects or counteracts an evil : corrective , counteractive , reparation
whose simple remedy for discontent was the wall and the firing-squad — H.J.Laski
3. : tolerance 3a
4. : the legal means to recover a right or to prevent or obtain redress for a wrong : the relief (as damages, restitution, specific performance, an injunction) that may be given by a court for a wrong
5. : a half-holiday in an English school
Synonyms:
cure , medicine , medicament , medication , specific , physic : remedy applies to a substance or treatment that is known or regarded as effective in bringing about recovery or restoration of health or the normal functioning of the body
patent medicines and cold remedies
a toothache remedy
much has been written on the subject of fear and many inspirational and emotional remedies have been suggested — W.J.Reilly
a homely remedy is to rub a moist cake of carbolic soap over the skin — F.D.Smith & Barbara Wilcox
psychoanalysis as a remedy for mental ills
cure , more positive than remedy in implying complete recovery or restoration of health, is a common term to designate anything advocated as being or thought to be conducive to complete recovery
no known specific cure for tuberculosis — Therapeutic Notes
the climate was advertised during the eighties as a cure for tuberculosis — American Guide Series: Minnesota
reaching into the medicine cabinet for a cure for the baby — W.J.Reilly
all current surgical intervention in mental disease is not proposed as a cure — Collier's Year Book
medicine is the ordinary term for any substance or preparation taken internally in treating a disturbance of the normal functions of the body
most medicines are alleviative in their action and not definitely curative — A.C.Morrison
the witch doctor is there to give them some magic medicine to drink — J.G.Frazer
medicament or medication are general terms especially used by doctors and pharmacists for all medicinal substances and preparations whether taken internally or applied externally
doctors admit that they can do more for their patients now that they do not have to worry about the size of their bills and the cost of medicaments — New Statesman & Nation
made the rounds of her five patients with a medicament of her own — a quart of Grandfather's best bonded bourbon — J.A.Maxwell
prescribe several kinds of medication hoping to hit on a cure
specific is applied to something, usually a drug, known to be effective in curing a specific disease
various rheumatism specifics containing cinchophen, found to have notably injurious effects on the liver — Encyc. Americana
physic is the archaic equivalent of medicine
this first revolt against authority took the form of refusing physic when he was ill — Agnes Repplier
in modern use it has specialized to become synonymous with purgative or cathartic.
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English remedien to provide remedy for, from Middle French remedier, from Latin remediare, from Latin remedium
1. obsolete : to give legal redress to : render justice to
2. : to provide or serve as a remedy for : relieve , repair
certain mental blocks can be remedied — Stuart Chase
some defect in total mobilization to be remedied in time — H.W.Neuberg
Synonyms: see correct , cure