I.a drug, remedy, physic, medicine, medicament.
I. Lit.: “medicamentum alicui dare ad aquam intercutem,” Cic. Off. 3, 24, 92: “haurire,” Plin. 24, 19, 113, § 174: “sumere,” to take, Curt. 3, 6, 3: “componere,” to compound, Plin. 32, 9, 34, § 106: “somnificum,” id. 37, 10, 57, § 158: “medicamenta salubria,” Liv. 8, 18: “salutaria,” Cic. N. D. 2, 53, 132.—Also of remedies applied externally: “medicamentis delibutus,” Cic. Brut. 60, 217.—
B. Transf., like the Gr. φάρμακον, a drug, a potion.
1. A hurtful drug, poison: quaerit ibidem ab Hannibale, cur biberit medicamentum, Varr. ap. Non. 345, 23: “coquere medicamenta,” Liv. 8, 18: “medicamentis partum abigere,” Cic. Clu. 11, 32: “medicamento sagittas tingere,” Plin. 27, 11, 76, § 101: “amatorium,” a love-potion, philter, Suet. Calig. 50; of an enchanted potion, Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 80.—
2. A tincture for dyeing, a color, dye, mordant, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 521, 20: “crassius,” Sen. Q. N. 1, 3: “rudia,” Plin. 35, 6, 26, § 44.—
3. A seasoning, condiment, Col. 12, 20.—
4. A paint, wash, cosmetic, Sen. Ben. 7, 9, 2.—
5. A plastering, Vop. Firm. 3.—
II. Trop.
A. A remedy, relief, antidote (rare but class.): “multorum medicamentum laborum,” Cic. Clu. 71, 201: “doloris medicamenta illa Epicurea,” id. Fin. 2, 7, 22: “panchrestum medicamentum (sc. pecunia),” Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 65, § 152.—
B. (Acc. to I. B. 4.) An embellishment: “medicamenta fucati candoris, et ruboris,” Cic. Or. 23, 79.—
C. An enchantment: “ne quid mali medicamenti inferretur,” Plin. 28, 9, 37, § 142.
