medic
UK: ˈmɛdɪk | US: ˈmɛdɪk
n. 1. A medical student or doctor (informal).
n. 2. A member of a military medical corps.
n. 3. (Historical) A person trained in healing arts, especially in ancient or medieval contexts.
medic = med<heal> + ic<noun suffix>
- med<heal>: From Latin medicus (physician) and mederi (to heal).
- ic<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns, often indicating a person associated with a role or function (e.g., critic, mechanic).
Etymology Origin:
The word medic traces back to Latin medicus, meaning "physician," derived from mederi (to heal). It entered English via Old French medique in the 14th century, initially referring to healers or doctors. Over time, it specialized to denote military medical personnel and later became informal slang for medical professionals. The root med- persists in related terms like medicine and medical, consistently tied to healing.
The army medic rushed to treat the wounded soldier.
She’s training to become a medic at the local hospital.
In ancient Rome, a medic was highly respected for their knowledge of herbs.
The term "medic" is often used casually among medical students.
During the war, medics worked tirelessly under dangerous conditions.