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The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section P and Q · Project Gutenberg — chapter 255 of 752 · ~505 words · public domain

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2. Of or pertaining to physics, or natural philosophy; treating of, or relating to, the causes and connections of natural phenomena; as, physical science; physical laws. "Physical philosophy." Pope.

3. Perceptible through a bodily or material organization; cognizable by the senses; external; as, the physical, opposed to chemical, characters of a mineral.

4. Of or pertaining to physic, or the art of medicine; medicinal; curative; healing; also, cathartic; purgative. [Obs.] "Physical herbs." Sir T. North.

Is Brutus sick? and is it physical To walk unbraced, and suck up the humors Of the dank morning?

Shak.

Physical astronomy, that part of astronomy which treats of the causes of the celestial motions; specifically, that which treats of the motions resulting from universal gravitation. -- Physical education, training of the bodily organs and powers with a view to the promotion of health and vigor. -- Physical examination (Med.), an examination of the bodily condition of a person. -- Physical geography. See under Geography. -- Physical point, an indefinitely small portion of matter; a point conceived as being without extension, yet having physical properties, as weight, inertia, momentum, etc.; a material point. -- Physical signs (Med.), the objective signs of the bodily state afforded by a physical examination.

Phys"ic*al*ly, adv. In a physical manner; according to the laws of nature or physics; by physical force; not morally.

I am not now treating physically of light or colors.

Locke.

2. According to the rules of medicine. [Obs.]

He that lives physically must live miserably.

Cheyne.

Phy*si"cian (?), n. [OE. fisician, fisicien, OF. physucien, a physician, in F., a natural philosopher, an experimentalist in physics. See Physic.] 1. A person skilled in physic, or the art of healing; one duty authorized to prescribe remedies for, and treat, diseases; a doctor of medicine.

2. Hence, figuratively, one who ministers to moral diseases; as, a physician of the soul.

Phy*si"cianed (?), a. Licensed as a physician. [Obs.] "A physicianed apothecary." Walpole.

Phys"i*cism (?), n. The tendency of the mind toward, or its preoccupation with, physical phenomena; materialism in philosophy and religion.

Anthropomorphism grows into theology, while physicism (if I may so call it) develops into science.

Huxley.

Phys"i*cist (?), n. One versed in physics.

2. (Biol.) A believer in the theory that the fundamental phenomena of life are to be explained upon purely chemical and physical principles; -- opposed to vitalist.

Phys"ick*ing (?), p. pr. & vb. n. fr. Physic, v. t.

Phys"i*co- (?). [Fr. Gr. &?; natural, physical.] A combining form, denoting relation to, or dependence upon, natural causes, or the science of physics.

Phys`i*co*chem"ic*al (?), a. [Physico- + chemical.] Involving the principles of both physics and chemistry; dependent on, or produced by, the joint action of physical and chemical agencies. Huxley.

Phys`i*co*log"ic (?), n. [Physico- + logic.] Logic illustrated by physics.

Phys`i*co*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to physicologic. Swift.

Phys`i*col"o*gy (?), n. [Physico- + -logy.] Physics. [R.] -- Phys`i*col"o*gist (#), n. [R.]

Phys`i*co-math`e*mat"ics (?), n. [Physico- + mathematics.] Mixed mathematics.

Phys`i*co-phi*los"o*phy (?), n. [Physico- + philosophy.] The philosophy of nature.

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