Galen
(ˈgeɪlən)
Also 4–6 Galien.
[ad. L. Galēn-us (in med.L. also Galienus), Gr. Γαληνός.]
A celebrated physician of the 2nd century a.d., born at Pergamus in Asia Minor. Hence, jocularly: A physician.
| [c 1369 Chaucer Bk. Duchesse 572 Ne hele me may phisicien, Noght Ypocras ne Galien.] 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. iii. 29 What saies my Esculapius? my Galien? my heart of Elder? 1607 [see empiricutic]. 1652 Ashmole Theat. Chem. Annot. 460 Every Galen hath his Plague. 1714 Pearce Spect. No. 572 ¶2 Though Impudence and many Words are as necessary to these Itinerary Galens as a laced Hat or a Merry Andrew. 1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle xiv, Then followed the two Galens, and little Reefpoint. 1893 Farmer Slang, Galen, an apothecary. |
Hence Gaˈlenian a. [see -ian] = Galenic a.1, Galenical a.1 ˈGalenism [see -ism], the medical principles or system of Galen. Also in combining form, as in † Gaˈleno-chemist, ? one who employs both Galenic and chemical remedies.
| 1665 G. Thomson Galeno-pale iv. 19 They..of a sudden will all become Chymists; but Galeno-Chymists. 1727–51 Chambers Cycl. s.v. Galenic, Paracelsus..exploded Galenism, and the whole Peripatetick doctrine. 1800 Med. Jrnl. III. 256 The doctrine of their functions still savoured of the old Galenian Theory. 1869 O. W. Holmes Med. Ess. vi. (1883) 318 When we say ‘cool as a cucumber’, we are talking Galenism. 1896 F. Ryland Logic 102 The fourth figure is still sometimes called the Galenian figure. |