Formulary

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfɔː(ɹ)mjʊləɹi/

Definitions

1. A book or document containing standard formulas, especially for preparing medicines or conducting religious ceremonies
2. A reference work that lists procedures, compositions, or protocols, particularly in relation to pharmaceuticals or specialized practices
3. A compilation intended for use by medical professionals to provide established recipes, instructions, or formulations

Etymology: "Formulary" comes to English from Middle French "formulaire," itself drawn from the Latin "formula," meaning a set form or rule, a diminutive of "forma" (shape, mould). The Latin root gave English "formula" directly as well, so the two words are close relatives that took different routes into the language. The surface analysis of "formulary" as "formula" plus the suffix "-ary" is accurate in terms of how the word looks in English, though the suffix itself arrived through French rather than being attached in English. The word's sense has stayed remarkably narrow. A formulary is a book of prescribed formulas, and in medicine it has long meant a collection of standard preparations and dosages that practitioners could consult rather than devise each prescription from scratch. Where "formula" can mean almost any fixed expression, "formulary" stays tied to a physical or institutional book of established recipes, which is why hospitals and pharmacies still maintain their own.

Synonyms: formula, recipe