diuretic, a. and n. Med.
(daɪjʊˈrɛtɪk)
Also 5 duretick, -ik, duritik, 6 diuretike, dyurytyke, (7 diuretique), 7–8 diuretick(e.
[ad. L. diūrētic-us, a. Gr. διουρητικός promoting urine, f. διουρεῖν to urinate: see prec. Cf. F. diurétique (14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).]
A. adj. Having the quality of exciting (excessive) excretion or discharge of urine.
| c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 276 A decoccioun of herbis þat ben mollificatif & duretik. 1541 R. Copland Galyen's Terap. 2 H ij b, It must be myxed..with some dyurytyke medycamentes. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. ii. v. 84 Inwardly received it may be very diuretick, and expulse the stone in the kidnyes. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet, All salts whatsoever are diuretick. 1885 Manch. Exam. 4 May 5/2 The salts of potash which it contains are diuretic. |
† b. Of persons: Urinating excessively. Obs.
| 1768 Life Sir B. Sapskull II. 97. 1812 Morn. Chron. 11 Apr. |
B. n. A substance having the property of promoting excretion or evacuation of urine.
| c 1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 279 Þou schalt make him a clisterie of duritikis. 1658 Rowland Moufet's Theat. Ins. 912 Galen placeth it amongst Diureticks. 1704 Swift T. Tub Wks. 1760 I. 109 Laughter..the most innocent of all diureticks. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet 256 Stimulatory Diureticks. 1875 H. C. Wood Therap. (1879) 477. |