pharmacopœia
(ˌfɑːməkəʊˈpiːɪə)
Also 7 -pea, (erron. -pæa, -pæia), 7–8 -pœa, 8–9 -peia.
[mod.L., a. Gr. ϕαρµακοποιία, the art of a ϕαρµακοποι-ός or preparer of drugs, f. ϕαρµακο- pharmaco- + -ποιος making, maker.]
1. A book containing a list of drugs, with directions for their preparation and identification; spec. such a book officially published by authority and revised at stated times.
| 1621 Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iv. i. i, That infinite variety of medicines which I find in every Pharmacopea. Ibid. ii. v. i. iii. 466 Our new London Pharmacopæa. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Life (1886) 55 Pharmacopaeias or antidotaries of several countries. 1800 Med. Jrnl. IV. 98 The medicine obtained a place in the Pharmacopeia of the Swedes. 1866 Brande & Cox Dict. Sci. II. 881/1 Previous to the year 1863, three Pharmacopœias were extant in Great Britain, viz. those of the Colleges of Physicians of London, Edinburgh, and Dublin. In 1863 a British Pharmacopœia was compiled by the Medical Council of the kingdom, and sanctioned as a substitute for its predecessor. 1868 A. K. H. Boyd Less. Mid. Age 37 All the doctors in Britain and all the medicines in the pharmacopœia could make nothing of such a case. |
2. A collection or stock of drugs. Also fig.
| 1721 Bailey, Pharmacopœa, a Dispensary or Collection of Medicines. 1807 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life xx. (ed. 5) II. 246 Then moistens her dewlaps With..each panacea From the Pharmacopeia. 1814 Scott Wav. xxiv, An opiate draught administered by the old Highlander from some decoction of herbs in his pharmacopeia. 1877 F. G. Heath Fern W. 42 Ferns have..a greater repute as items in the pharmacopoeia of the herbalist. |
† 3. A chemical laboratory. Obs. rare—0.
| 1864 in Webster. Hence in later Dicts. |
Hence pharmacoˈpœist, the compiler of a pharmacopœia.
| 1900 H. G. Graham Soc. Life Scot. 18th C. (1901) II. 480 The Pharmacopaeist of 1737 protests against the worthless farragoes made and sold in the shops. |