adj. 1. Readily available in pharmacies; not requiring special preparation. 2. Recognized by a pharmacopoeia: an officinal herb. [French, from Medieval Latin officīnālis, of a storeroom or workshop, from Latin officīna, workshop, alteration of opificīna, from opifex, opific-, workman : opus, work; see op- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + facere, to do; see dhē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] of·fici·nal·ly adv. |
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