apothecary
UK: əˈpɒθɪkəri | US: əˈpɑːθɪkeri
n. 1. A historical term for a person who prepared and sold medicines; a pharmacist or druggist.
n. 2. A shop where medicinal drugs are prepared and sold; a pharmacy.
apothecary = apo<away, from> + thec<store> + ary<noun suffix>
- apo (from Greek apo, meaning "away, from")
- thec (from Greek theke, meaning "store, receptacle")
- ary (Latin-derived suffix indicating "related to" or "person connected with")
Etymology Origin:
The word apothecary traces back to Late Latin apothecarius, meaning "storekeeper," derived from Greek apotheke ("storehouse"). Originally, it referred to any warehouse keeper, but by the 14th century, it specialized to denote someone who stored and sold medicinal compounds. The morpheme apo ("away") hints at the separation of goods for storage, while thec ("store") reflects its functional roots. Over time, the term narrowed to its modern association with pharmacies.
In medieval Europe, an apothecary was essential for preparing herbal remedies.
The old apothecary shop still displays antique jars of dried herbs.
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet features a pivotal scene with an apothecary.
Modern pharmacies evolved from the traditional role of the apothecary.
She studied historical texts to learn about apothecary practices in the 18th century.