Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Medicine \Med"i*cine\, n.
   1.
      (a) Among the North American Indians, any object supposed
          to give control over natural or magical forces, to act
          as a protective charm, or to cause healing; also,
          magical power itself; the potency which a charm,
          token, or rite is supposed to exert.

                The North American Indian boy usually took as
                his medicine the first animal of which he
                dreamed during the long and solitary fast that
                he observed at puberty.           --F. H.
                                                  Giddings.
      (b) Hence, a similar object or agency among other savages.

   2. Short for {Medicine man}.

   3. Intoxicating liquor; drink. [Slang]

Medicine \Med"i*cine\, v. t.
   To give medicine to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy;
   to cure. ``Medicine thee to that sweet sleep.'' --Shak.

Medicine \Med"i*cine\, n. [L. medicina (sc. ars), fr. medicinus
   medical, fr. medicus: cf. F. m['e]decine. See {Medical}.]
   1. The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or
      alleviation of disease.

   2. Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a
      remedial agent; a remedy; physic.

            By medicine, life may be prolonged.   --Shak.

   3. A philter or love potion. [Obs.] --Shak.

   4. [F. m['e]decin.] A physician. [Obs.] --Shak.

   {Medicine bag}, a charm; -- so called among the North
      American Indians, or in works relating to them.

   {Medicine man} (among the North American Indians), a person
      who professes to cure sickness, drive away evil spirits,
      and regulate the weather by the arts of magic.

   {Medicine seal}, a small gem or paste engraved with reversed
      characters, to serve as a seal. Such seals were used by
      Roman physicians to stamp the names of their medicines.

Source : WordNet®

medicine
     n 1: the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical
          techniques [syn: {medical specialty}]
     2: (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates
        the symptoms of disease [syn: {medication}, {medicament},
        {medicinal drug}]
     3: the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training
        in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or
        alleviating or curing diseases and injuries; "he studied
        medicine at Harvard" [syn: {practice of medicine}]
     4: punishment for one's actions; "you have to face the music";
        "take your medicine" [syn: {music}]
     v : treat medicinally, treat with medicine [syn: {medicate}]