[L. medicina (sc. ars), fr. medicinus medical, fr. medicus: cf. F. médecine. See Medical.]

1. The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease.

2. Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a medication; a medicament; a remedy; physic.

By medicine, life may be prolonged.

3. A philter or love potion. [Obs.] Shak.

4. [F. médecin.]
A physician. [Obs.] Shak.

5. (a) Among the North American Indians, any object supposed to give control over natural or magical forces, to act as a protective charm, or to cause healing; also, magical power itself; the potency which a charm, token, or rite is supposed to exert.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

The North American Indian boy usually took as his medicine the first animal of which he dreamed during the long and solitary fast that he observed at puberty.

(b) Hence, a similar object or agency among other savages.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

6. Short for Medicine man.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

7. Intoxicating liquor; drink. [Slang]
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Medicine bag, a charm; -- so called among the North American Indians, or in works relating to them. -- Medicine man (among the North American Indians), a person who professes to cure sickness, drive away evil spirits, and regulate the weather by the arts of magic; a shaman. -- Medicine seal, a small gem or paste engraved with reversed characters, to serve as a seal. Such seals were used by Roman physicians to stamp the names of their medicines.

Med·i·cine
v. t.

To give medicine to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy; to cure. «Medicine thee to that sweet sleep.» Shak.

Webster 1913 Dictionary edited by Patrick J. Cassidy