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English Vocabulary


medicinal or medical

Sunny19
User since 2008
Posts: 121

7 Aug. 2008

Hello everybody,


in my today's English lesson I read: Olere used plants from the rainforest for medicinal purposes.
I know the word medical. (Medical purposes)
But not medicinal.
What's the difference please?

2 comments

  • User since 2006
    Posts: 2715

    7 Aug. 2008

    To my mind,


    medical refers to physicians, practicioners.
    To take a medical exam = to be examined by a physician
    Medical board = board of physicians


    medicinal means "of medicine (as remedy)"
    A medicinal plant
    A medicinal treatment
    Olere's purposes are to invent new medicines, so his purposes are medicinal.
  • User since 2008
    Posts: 121

    13 Aug. 2008

    Thanks, I got it.

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