I.v. dep. n. [root madh, to be wise; Zend, madha, the healing art; cf. μάθος, also medicus, re-med-ium], to heal, cure, be good for or against a disease (syn.: medico, sano, curo); constr. with dat., rarely with contra, very rarely with acc. (class.).
I. Lit.
A. Of pers. subjects: “medico non solum morbus ejus, cui mederi volet, cognoscendus est,” Cic. de Or. 2, 44, 186.—Prov.: “cum capiti mederi debeam, reduviam curo,” i. e. to neglect matters of importance while attending to trifles, Cic. Rosc. Am. 44, 128.—
B. Of subjects not personal: “contra serpentium ictus mederi,” Plin. 9, 31, 51, § 99: “oculis herba chelidonia,” id. 8, 27, 41, § 98: “dolori dentium,” id. 20, 1, 2, § 4: “capitis vulneribus,” id. 24, 6, 22, § 36: “medendi ars,” the healing art, art of medicine, Ov. A. A. 2, 735; id. M. 7, 526; Lact. 1, 18 fin.—Pass.: “ut ex vino stomachi dolor medeatur,” Hier. Ep. 22, 4; cf.: “medendae valetudini leniendisque morbis opem adhibere,” Suet. Vesp. 8.—
II. Trop., to remedy, relieve, amend, correct, restore, etc.
(α).
With dat.: “huic malo,” Cic. Agr. 1, 9, 26: “dies stultis quoque mederi solet,” id. Fam. 7, 28, 3: “incommodis omnium,” id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 10: “afflictae et perditae rei publicae,” id. Sest. 13, 31: “religioni,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 51, § 114: “inopiae rei frumentariae,” Caes. B. G. 5, 24: “tum satietati, tum ignorantiae lectorum,” to provide against, Nep. Pelop. 1, 1: “rei alicui lege aut decreto senatus,” Tac. A. 4, 16.—
(β).
With acc.: “quas (cupiditates) mederi possis,” Ter. Phorm. 5, 4, 2; Just. Inst. 2, 7.—Pass.: “aquae medendis corporibus nobiles,” Vell. 2, 25, 4.—Absol.: “aegrescit medendo,” his disorder increases with the remedy, Verg. A. 12, 46.—Impers. pass.: “ut huic vitio medeatur,” Vitr. 6, 11.—Hence, mĕdens , entis (gen. plur. medentum, Ov. M. 15, 629), subst., a physician (poet. and in post-Aug. prose): “veluti pueris absinthia tetra medentes cum dare conantur,” Lucr. 1, 936; Ov. H. 21, 14: “Democrates e primis medentium,” Plin. 25, 8, 49, § 87; Plin. Pan. 22.
