noun

apothecary

uh-PAH-thuh-kair-ee/əˈpɑːθəkeri/

A person who prepared and sold medicines historically.

The apothecary prepares ingredients with a mortar and pestle.

Historical pharmacist prepares ingredients with mortar and pestle.

Etymology

apoGreekaway

+thecGreekreceptacle

+aryLatinperson associated with

A receptacle for putting things away gives the underlying image of a storehouse, and an apothecary was originally a storekeeper. Because drugs and herbs were important stored goods, the occupation narrowed to a seller and preparer of medicines.

In context

Boring History For Sleep HQ19:57

Now you have to trust this man to balance you back to health using the strange and wonderful contents of his mysterious shop. The apothecary places the two containers he selected on the polished wood of the counter.

The Surprisingly Simple Remedies of a Colonial American Apothecary | Boring History for Sleep

More examples

Rows of bottles line the walls of the old apothecary.
The novel’s apothecary sells remedies from a small shop.
Visitors tour the restored apothecary to learn how medicines were sold.

Forms

apothecary · apothecaries

Similar words

pharmacist: The modern profession centered on preparing and dispensing medicines.
druggist: Druggist is another older term for a medicine seller; apothecary particularly evokes historical preparation of remedies.