mĕdĭcāmentum, i, n. [medicor], a drug, remedy, physic, medicine, medicament.
I Lit.: medicamentum alicui dare ad aquam intercutem, Cic. Off. 3, 24, 92: haurire, Plin. 24, 19, 113, § 174: sumere, to take , Curt. 3, 6, 3: componere, to compound , Plin. 32, 9, 34, § 106: somnificum, id. 37, 10, 57, § 158: medicamenta salubria, Liv. 8, 18: salutaria, Cic. N. D. 2, 53, 132.—Also of remedies applied externally: medicamentis delibutus, Cic. Brut. 60, 217.—
B Transf., like the Gr. φάρμακον, a drug, a potion .
1 A hurtful drug, poison : quaerit ibidem ab Hannibale, cur biberit medicamentum, Varr. ap. Non. 345, 23: coquere medicamenta, Liv. 8, 18: medicamentis partum abigere, Cic. Clu. 11, 32: medicamento sagittas tingere, Plin. 27, 11, 76, § 101: amatorium, a love-potion, philter , Suet. Calig. 50; of an enchanted potion , Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 80.—
2 A tincture for dyeing, a color, dye, mordant , Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 521, 20: crassius, Sen. Q. N. 1, 3: rudia, Plin. 35, 6, 26, § 44.—
3 A seasoning, condiment , Col. 12, 20.—
4 A paint, wash, cosmetic , Sen. Ben. 7, 9, 2.—
5 A plastering , Vop. Firm. 3.—
II Trop.
A A remedy, relief, antidote (rare but class.): multorum medicamentum laborum, Cic. Clu. 71, 201: doloris medicamenta illa Epicurea, id. Fin. 2, 7, 22: panchrestum medicamentum (sc. pecunia), id. Verr. 2, 3, 65, § 152.—
B (Acc. to I. B. 4.) An embellishment : medicamenta fucati candoris, et ruboris, Cic. Or. 23, 79.—
C An enchantment : ne quid mali medicamenti inferretur, Plin. 28, 9, 37, § 142.