Officinal

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌɒfɪˈsaɪnəl/

Definitions

1. Referring to a botanical or substance recognized for its medicinal properties in herbal or pharmaceutical contexts
2. Pertaining to an item or plant officially acknowledged for its therapeutic benefits by medical professionals or herbalists
3. Describing a plant or substance that is officially designated as having healing qualities in medical usage or herbal remedies

Etymology: "Officinal" started out as a description of a workshop. Latin "officina" meant a workshop or workplace, and it was contracted from "opificina," built from "opifex" (a workman), itself a compound of "opus" (work) and "faciō" (to make or do). So the word's deepest sense is simply "a place where things are made." From that workshop sense, "officina" came to mean the storeroom or workroom of a monastery or pharmacy, where remedies were prepared. Medieval Latin used "officinalis" for the herbs and drugs kept and dispensed there. French adopted the term, and English took it from French, using it for plants and preparations listed as standard medicines. The shift from workshop to pharmacy stock is what gives the modern adjective its sense of being officially recognised for healing use.

Synonyms: medicinal, therapeutic, curative, pharmaceutical, remedial

Antonyms: toxic, harmful, poisonous, unhealthy, deleterious