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The root for 'physician' is ultimately Greek, although we get the word via Latin.

The Middle Liddell dictionary definition of the Greek word φυσις (phusis) is 'The nature of a person or a thing, i.e the natural form or constitution...'

One who concerned themselves with this was a φυσικος (phusikos).

Latin used this word too, but transliterated it into their alphabet: 'physicus' and hence we get our word 'physician' - lit. 'one who concerns themselves with the nature of things'.

Latin more commonly used the word 'medicus' to mean 'physician' as we use the word today.

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12y ago

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