Medicine and Meditate Share a Root Meaning to Take Measures
A medic is a doctor or a military medical worker. The Latin root behind it means to look after or take appropriate measures.
A medic is a doctor, a medical student, or a member of a military medical unit. Latin *mederi* meant to look after or heal, from an older root meaning to take appropriate measures — and that root also produced *meditate*, *moderate* and *remedy*. Healing, thinking carefully and staying within limits all descend from the idea of measuring correctly. In British usage *medic* often means a medical student; in American usage it usually means a military or emergency medical worker.
- A doctor or medical student. *A junior medic.*
- A military medical worker. *A combat medic.*
- Paramedic — an emergency responder. *A paramedic.*
- Remedy — from the same root. *A remedy.*
- Latin — *mederi*, to heal. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | medic | A medic. |
| Plural | medics | Two medics. |
| Related | medicine | Medicine. |
| Related | paramedic | A paramedic. |
| Latin | mederi | To heal. |
- The medics reached him within minutes.Emergency.
- She is a third-year medic.British: student.
- Meditate shares the same root.Etymology.
The mederi family
- Medicine — the art of healing
- Remedy — a means of curing
- Meditate — to measure or consider carefully
- Moderate — to keep within measure
- Modest — from the same idea of proper limits
Latin *medicus*, a physician, from *mederi*, to heal or look after, from a root meaning to measure or take measures.
Does medic mean the same in Britain and America?
Not quite. In Britain it often means a medical student; in America it usually means a military or emergency medical worker.
Are medicine and meditate related?
Yes. Both descend from a root meaning to take appropriate measures, one for the body and one for the mind.