Medically

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈmɛd.ɪ.kli/

Definitions

1. In a manner relating to the science or practice of medicine and the treatment of illness and injuries
2. In a way that pertains to the field of healthcare and encompasses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and medical conditions
3. In a fashion connected to medical science, involving healthcare practices, treatments, and procedures for managing health issues

Etymology: "Medically" is simply "medical" with the adverbial ending "-ly" added, so its history is really the history of its base word. "Medical" comes from French "médical", which was formed from Medieval Latin "medicālis" and ultimately from Latin "medicus", meaning "physician" and tied to the verb "mederi", "to heal". English borrowed the adjective, and the Latin root has also given us "medicine" and "medicinal". The ending "-ly" has an older history. It descends from Old English "-līce", which was itself linked to the word "līc", meaning "body" or "form", and in Old English it turned adjectives into adverbs of manner. Over the centuries it shifted into "-ly", and it is now attached to countless adjectives in the same way. "Medically" thus joins a regular English pattern rather than a special coinage. Its meaning follows its base word closely. "In medical terms" describes the sense in which something is being judged or described, as when a claim is considered from the standpoint of medicine rather than of law or everyday life.

Synonyms: clinically