/vet"euhr euh ner'ee, ve"treuh-/ , n. , pl. veterinaries , adj.
n.
1. a veterinarian.
adj.
2. of or pertaining to the medical and surgical treatment of animals, esp. domesticated animals.
[ 1780-90; veterinarius, equiv. to veterin ( ae ) beasts of burden (n. use of fem. pl. of VETERINUS pertaining to such beasts, equiv. to veter-, s. of vetus old, i.e., grown, able to take a load + -inus -INE 1 ) + -arius -ARY ]