Apothecary
/əˈpɒθ.ɪ.kər.i/noun
A person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Greek *apothēkē*, a “storehouse,” and passed through Latin and Old French before English gave it a medical, almost alchemical aura.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Gk
apothḗkē (ἀποθήκη)
“a storehouse or repository”
Late Latin
Lat
apotheca
“a storehouse, cellar, or place for provisions”
Old French
OF
apotecaire
“a seller or keeper of medicinal goods”
Middle English
ME
apotecarie
“one who prepared and sold medicines”
Modern English
Eng
apothecary
“a pharmacist or druggist (now chiefly historical or literary)”
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