Pharmacopeia
/ˌfɑːr.məˈkoʊ.pi.ə/noun
A pharmacopoeia is an official book listing medicinal drugs and their standards.
Did you know?Pharmacopoeia comes from Greek roots tied to drugs and making, and the same ancient drug-root also gave English words like pharmaceutics and pharmacy.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GR
φαρμακοποιΐα (pharmakopoiía)
“drug preparation or drug-making”
Late Greek
GR
φαρμακοποιός (pharmakopiós)
“drug-maker or compounder of medicines”
Late Latin
LA
pharmacopoeia
“a maker or preparer of drugs”
16th–17th Century
EN
pharmacopoeia
“a collection of recipes or preparations for medicines”
Modern English
EN
pharmacopoeia
“an official list or book of medicinal drugs and standards”
Explore more surprising origins