Of*fic"i*nal (?), a. [F., fr. L. officina a workshop, contr.fr. opificina, fr. opifex a workman; opus work + facere to make or do.]

1.

Used in a shop, or belonging to it.

[Obs. or R.]

Johnson.

2. Pharm.

Kept in stock by apothecaries; -- said of such drugs and medicines as may be obtained without special preparation or compounding; not magistral.

⇒ This term is often interchanged with official, but in strict use officinal drugs are not necessarily official. See Official, a., 3.

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.