Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Officinal
Of-fic′i-nal
,Adj.
[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 , 3.
Official
, Adj.
Webster 1828 Edition
Officinal
OFFIC'INAL
,Adj.
Used in a shop or belonging to it. Officinal drugs, medicines and simples are such as are required to be constantly kept in the shops of apothecaries.