Physeteridse 
tical of the temporal fosste, and the frontal bones visible 
above as erect triangular or retrorsely falciform wedges 
between the maxillaries and the supraoccipital. .some- 
times called Catmlunlids. 
Physeterinas (ti-se-tp-ri'ne). . pi. Ij ->< 
Phi/setcr + -tux.] 1. The typical subfamily 
of the Physeteridse, containing the genera 1'liy- 
seter and Jfot/ia. 2. This subfamily restricted, 
by the exclusion of the genus Koghi as the type 
of a separate subfamily, to the ordinary large 
sperm-whales of the genus Physeter. 
physeterine (fi-se'te-rin), . and . [< pkyseter 
+ -ine 1 .] I. (i. Like or related to a sperm-whale; 
of or pertaining to the Physeteriiiir. 
II. w. A member of the Pliyseterinx. 
physeteroid (fi-se'te-roid), . and n. [< ffyw- 
tt-r + -oitl.] I. . Belonging to the Physeteroidea, 
or having their characters ; resembling the ge- 
nus Physeter; xiphioid. 
II. . A member of the Pliyxcterulse, in either 
sense; a xiphioid. Ettcyc. Brit., XV. 393. 
Physeteroidea (fi-se-te-roi'de-a), n. pi. [NL., 
< Physeter + -oidea.] The Physeteridse, in sense 
2, regarded as a superfamily. (till. 
physharmonica (fis-har-mou'i-ka), n. [NL.,< 
Gr. <j>i>aa, bellows, + NL. harmonica, q. v.] A 
small reed-organ originally intended to be at- 
tached to a pianoforte, so as to sustain melodies. 
It was invented in 1818, and was the precursor 
of the harmonium. See reed-organ. 
physianthropy (fiz-i-an'thro-pi), . [< Gr. 
01'tnr, nature (see physic), + avopuiroc, man.] 
The science which treats of the constitution 
and diseases of man, and of medical remedies. 
[Rare.] 
physiatricst (fiz-i-at'riks), n. [< Gr. <l>i>air, na- 
ture, + iarpiKJi (sc. Tcx v >i), medicine, prop. fern, 
of iarpiKof, for a physician : see in trie.'] That de- 
partment of medical science which treats of the 
healing powers of nature. 
physic (fiz'ik), n. [Formerly physick, phisicJc, < 
ME.phisik,fisike, natural philosophy, the science 
of medicine, < OF.Jisique,ftisike, phisique, natu- 
ral philosophy, the science of medicine, F. phy- 
sique, f., natural philosophy (physique, m., natu- 
ral constitution, physique), = Sp.fisi.ca = Pg. 
physica = It.fisica = D.physika = M.HGr.JisiJce, 
G.physik = Sw. Dan. fys-ik, natural philosophy, 
physics; (. ii.physica, physice, ML. also phisica, 
fisica, natural philosophy, physics, ML. also 
the science of medicine, < Gr. ijtvaiKt/, {., tyvaind, 
neut. pi., natural philosophy, physics ; as adj., 
F. physique = Sp. fisico = Pg. physico = It. fisico 
(G. physiseh = Sw. Dan. ft/sink), physical, < L. 
physical, < Gr. <t>vatK6f, natural; as noun, Sp. 
fisico = Pg. physico = It. fisico, a natural phi- 
losopher, physician, < L. physicus, ML. also 
phisicus, fisicus, Gr. Qvaimc. a natural philoso- 
pher, scientist; < <t>i'Oi(, nature, < Qveiv, produce, 
<f>i'ta6ai, grow : see be^.] If. Natural philoso- 
phy; physics. See physics. 
Physique is after the seconde [part of theorike], 
Through which the philosophre hath fonde. 
To techen sondry knoulechinges 
Upon the bodeliche thinges 
Of man, of beste, of herbe, of stone, 
Of fiashe, of foule, of everichone 
That ben of bodely substaunce, 
The nature and the substance. 
Qower, Conf. Amant., vii. 
Physic should contemplate that which is inherent in 
matter, and therefore transitory; and metaphysic that 
which is abstracted and fixed. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 160. 
2. The science of medicine; the medical art or 
profession; the healing art ; medicine. 
Seynt Luke the Evaungelist was Disciple of seynt Foul, 
for to lerne Phisik; and many othere. 
Handeville, Travels, p. 124. 
Of late yeares I practised bodely phi/tick in Englande, in 
my lorde of Sumersettes house. 
W. Turner, Spiritual Physic (1555). 
3. A medicine ; a drug ; a remedy for disease ; 
also, drugs collectively. 
The frere with hisphisik this folke hath enchaunted, 
And plastred hem so esyly thei drede no synne. 
Piers Plowman (B), xx. 377. 
Attempre dyete was al hire plrixUt. 
Chaucer, Nun's Priest's Tale, 1. 18. 
Throw physic to the dogs ; I '11 none of it 
Shak., Macbeth, v. 3. 47. 
But in this point 
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic 
After his patient's death ; the King already 
Hath married the fair lady. 
Shak., Hen. VIII., ill. 2. 40. 
4. A medicine that purges; a cathartic; a 
purge. 
The people used physic to purge themselves of humours. 
Abp. Abbot, Descrip. of World. 
Affliction is my physic; that purges, that cleanses me. 
Donne, Sermons, xiv. 
4464 
5. In dyeinij, the nitromuriate of tin, or tin- 
spirits. Culver's physic. See Culver's-physic. In- 
dian physic. See bowman e-root and Gillema. PnyfllC 
garden*, a botanic garden. =Syn. 2. See surgery. 
physic (fiz'ik), v. t. ; pret. and pp. physicked, 
ppr. physicking. [< physic, n.] If. To treat 
with physic or medicines ; cure; heal; relieve. 
The labour we delight in physics pain. 
Shak., Macbeth, li. 3. 55. 
It physics not the sickness of a mind 
Broken with griefs. Ford, Broken Heart, 11. 2. 
2. To use cathartics orpurgatives upon; purge. 
3. To mix with some oxidizing body in or- 
der to eliminate phosphorus and sulphur, as in 
the manufacture of iron. 
He contended that sulphur could only be eliminated by 
two processes, "puddling" and "physicking." 
physical (fiz'i-kal), a. [Formerly &\sophisical; 
= It. fisicale, <"ML. physicalis, pertaining to 
physic or medicine, < L. physica, natural philos- 
ophy, medicine: see physic.'] 1. Pertaining to 
physics or natural philosophy: as, physical sci- 
ence ; pJiysical law. 2. Of or pertaining to ma- 
terial nature ; in accordance with the laws of 
nature ; relating to what is material and per- 
ceived by the senses; specifically, pertaining 
to the material part or structure of an organ- 
ized being, as opposed to what is mental or 
moral; material; bodily: as, physical force; 
physical strength. 
Labour then, In the physical world is always and solely 
employed in putting objects in motion ; the properties of 
matter, the laws of nature, do the rest. 
J. S. Mill, Pol. Econ., I. i. 2. 
" Real and physical things," Spinoza tells us, "cannot be 
understood so long as their essence is unknown." 
Veitch, Introd. to Descartes' s Method, p. xcvi. 
3. External; obvious to the senses ; cognizable 
through a bodily or material organization : as, 
the physical characters of a mineral : opposed 
to chemical. See mechanical. 4f. Of or per- 
taining to physic, or the art of curing disease 
or preserving health, or one who professes or 
practises this art ; of or pertaining to a physi- 
cian. 
To take Tobacco thus were phisicall, 
And might perhaps doe good. 
Times' Whistle (E. E. T. S.X p. 71. 
I have therefore sent him just now the following letter 
in my physical capacity. Tatter, No. 246. 
5t. In need of physic or of a physician ; sick ; 
ill. [Rare.] 
Thou look'st dull and physical, methinks. 
Shirley, Bird in a Cage, ill. 2. 
Aimwell. How now? what means this apothecary's shop 
about thee? art physical ? 
Fowler. Sick, sick. Shirley, Witty Fair One, iii. 4. 
6f. Of or pertaining to the drugs or medicines 
used in the healing art ; of use in curing disease 
or in preserving health ; medicinal ; remedial. 
Attalus . . . would plant and set physical! herbs, as hel- 
leborum. North, tr. of Plutarch, p. 739. 
Is Brutus sick ? and is it physical 
To walk unbraced and suck up the humours 
Of the dark morning? Shak., J. C., ii. 1. 261. 
physicist 
events have been brought about ; geology separated, as far 
as possible, from paleontology, or from any consideration 
of the order of succession and the nature of organic life 
upon the globe, and of the classification of the stratified 
formations in accordance therewith. Physical horizon, 
Influx, mineralogy, necessity, optics. See the nouns. 
Physical influence. Same as physical influx. Phys- 
ical partition, a partition by which the parts are really 
separated ; real partition : opposed to ideal partition. 
Physical perfection, possibility, power. See the 
nouns. Physical signs, such features of disease as are 
directly appreciable by the examiner and are not the ex- 
pression by the patient of his own feelings, as those elicited 
by palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion, etc. 
Physical truth, the harmony of thought with the phe- 
nomenaof outward experience. -Physical whole, a whole 
composed of matter and form. =Syn. 2. Corporal, Corpo- 
real, etc. See bodily. 3. Chemical, etc. See mechanical. 
physicalist (fiz'i-kal-ist), n. [<physical + -ist.] 
One who maintains that man's intellectual and 
moral nature depends on and results from his 
physical constitution, or that human thought 
and action are determined by physical organi- 
zation. 
physically (fiVi-kal-i), adv. 1. In a physical 
manner; according to nature; according to 
physics or natural philosophy; not intellec- 
tually or morally. 
I am not now treating physically of light or colours. 
Locke. 
2f. According to the art or rules of medicine. 
And for physic, he [Lord Bacon] did indeed live physi- 
cally, but not miserably. 
Raidey, in Spedding's Bacon, I. 55. 
He that lives physically must live miserably. Q. Cheyne. 
physicalness (tiz'i-kal-nes), n. The state of be- 
ing physical. Worcester. 
physician (fi-zish'an), . [Early mod. E. also 
physician, phisicion, physitian, physition, pliisi- 
tioii ; < ME. fisicien, fizicien, fisicion, Jisician, 
fysycian,phisicien,pMsicyen, etc., < OF.jisicieii, 
jisician, fusicien, etc.,phisicien, physiciem, a nat- 
ural philosopher, also and usually a medical 
man, a physician (F. physicieii, a natural phi- 
losopher), = Pr. phisician = It. jisiciano, a med- 
ical man, < ML. as if "physicianus, < L. plii/si- 
, . , 
cus (> It. fisico = Sp. fisico = Pg. physico), a 
natural philosopher, a physician, ML. pliysica, 
physics, medicine, physic : see physic.] 1. One 
who practises the art of healing disease and of 
preserving health ; a prescriber of remedies for 
sickness and disease ; specifically, a person li- 
censed by some competent authority, such as 
a medical college, to treat diseases and pre- 
scribe remedies for them ; a doctor; a medical 
man. The physician as a prescriber of remedies is dis- 
tinguished from the pharmacist, whose business is the 
compounding or preparing of medicines, and from the sur- 
geon, who performs remedial operations. The last, how- 
ever, often follows the practice of medicine, as does the 
licensed apothecary in England. 
Seint Poul him self was there a Phisicyen, for to kepen 
mennes Bodies in hele, before he was converted; and 
aftre that he was Phisicien of Soules. 
Mandeville, Travels, p. 123. 
It sometimes falls out that he that visits a sick Man is 
forced to be a Fighter instead of a Physician. 
N. Bailey, tr. of Colloquies of Erasmus, I. 324. 
He was less directly embarrassing to the two physicians 
than to the surgeon-apothecaries who attended paupers 
by contract. George Eliot, Middlemarch, xviii. 
Balmes, Oiles, Medicinals and Perfumes, Sassaparilla, 
and many other physicall drugs. 
Quoted in Copt. John Smith's Works, II. 74. 
The tree hath a pretty physical smell like an apothe- 
cary's shop. Rob. Knox (Arber's Eng. Garner, I. 333). 
2f. A student of physics; a naturalist; a physi- 
cist; specifically, in medieval universities, a 
student of the Aristotelian physics. 
physiciancy (fi-zish'an-si), . ; pi. physiciancies 
(-six), [(.physician + -cy.] Appointment as 
7f. Purgative; cathartic Physical abstraction, physician; the post or office of physician. 
equation, etc. See the nouns. Physical astronomy. r * 
See astronomy, 1. Physical examination, an examina- 
tion for the determination of the presence or absence 
of the various signs of bodily disease. Physical-force 
men. See Chartist. Physical fraction. See astronom- 
ical. fraction, under/racKon. Physical geography, that 
branch of science which has for its object the comparison 
and generalization of geographical facts. It differs chiefly 
from geology in that it regards the present rather than 
the past condition of the earth, but many authors in- 
clude in their text-books of physical geography more or 
less of that which is generally considered as belonging to 
geology. Physical geography may be subdivided into va- 
rious branches, of which the most important are orog- 
raphy, the study of mountain-chains, and in general of the 
relief of the surface, in which branch geology can only with 
difficulty be separated from geography ; thalassography, 
the study of the ocean, its outline, depths, currents, tem- 
perature, salinity, and the nature and distribution of ani- 
mal and vegetable life on and beneath its surface ; hydrog- 
raphy, the study of the river-systems, rivers, and lakes ; 
climatoloffi/, the practical side of meteorology, or the study 
of the climatic conditions of various parts of the earth's 
surface ; botanical geography, the study of the geographi- 
cal distribution of plants ; zoological geography, the dis- 
tribution of animal life ; and, finally, ethnology and anthro- 
pology, the study of the races of man and their distribu- 
tions, and their manners and customs. The last two 
branches, however, are special sciences, and are rarely 
treated, except in the most succinct manner, in the text- 
, 
books of physical geography. Physical geology, the 
study of the geological changes which have taken place 
on the earth's surface, and of the causes by which these 
He had in the previous year put himself forward as a 
candidate tor & physiciancy to St. George's Hospital. 
Lancet, No. 3423, p. 711. 
physicianed (fi-zish'and), . [< physician + 
-erf 2 .] Made a physician ; educated or licensed 
as a physician. [Rare.] 
One Dr. Lucas, a physicianed apothecary. H. Walpole. 
physicianly (fi-zish'au-li), a. [< physician + 
-ly 1 .] Pertaining to or characteristic of a phy- 
sician. 
Real knowledge of man and of men, of the causes and 
courses of human failure, ... is indescribably rich in 
physicianly force. Contemporary Rev., LIU. 503. 
physicianship (fi-zish'an-ship), . [< physi- 
eiaii + -ship.] The post or office of physician. 
Lancet, No. 3543, p. 941. 
physicism (fiz'i-sizm), . [< Gr. ^wranif, natu- 
ral (see physic), + -ism.] Belief in the material 
or physical as opposed to the spiritual. [Rare.] 
In the progress of the species from savagery to advanced 
civilization, anthropomorphism grows into theology, while 
physician (if I may so call it) develops into science. 
Huxley, Lay Sermons, p. 163. 
physicist (fiz'i-sist), . [< Gr. fyvaiKa, physics 
(sec jihygicft), + -int.] 1. A student of physics; 
a natural philosopher. 
