I. əˈfis ə nəl, |ȯfə|sīn ə l, |äf- adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin officinalis of a storeroom, from officina storeroom (from Latin, workshop, alteration of opificina, from opific-, opifex artisan — from opus work + -i- + -fic-, fex, from facere to do, make — + -ina, from feminine of -inus -ine) + Latin -alis -al — more at operate , do
1.
a. : kept in stock by druggists : available without special preparation or compounding : not magistral
officinal drugs
officinal medicines
b. : official 4b
2. of a plant : medicinal
officinal herbs
officinal rhubarb
• of·fic·i·nal·ly -əlē, - ə lē, -li adverb
II. noun
( -s )
: an officinal drug, medicine, or plant