DOC'TOR, n. [L. from doceo,
to teach.]
1. A teacher.
There stood up one in the council,
a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law. – Acts v.
2. One who has passed all the
degrees of a faculty, and is empowered to practice and teach it; as, a doctor
in divinity, in physic, in law; or according to modern usage, a person who has
received the highest degree in a faculty. The degree of doctor is conferred by
universities and colleges, as an honorary mark of literary distinction. It is
also conferred on physicians, as a professional degree.
3. A learned man; a man skilled
in a profession; a man of erudition. – Dryden. Digby.
4. A physician; one whose
occupation is to cure diseases.
5. The title, doctor, is given
to certain fathers of the church whose opinions are received as authorities,
and in the Greek church, it is given to a particular officer who interprets the
Scriptures. – Encyc.
Doctor’s Commons, the
college of civilians in London.
DOC'TOR, v. t. To apply
medicines for the cure of diseases. [A popular use of this word, but not
elegant.]
DOC'TOR, v. i. To practice
physic. [Not elegant.]
DOC'TOR-AL, a. Relating to the
degree of a doctor. – Johnson.
DOC'TOR-AL-LY, adv. In the
manner of a doctor. – Hakewill.
DOC'TOR-ATE, n. The degree of a
doctor. – Encyc.
DOC'TOR-ATE, v. t. To make a
doctor by conferring a degree. – Warton.
DOC'TOR-ED, pp. Administered
to by a physician; cured.
DOC'TOR-ING, ppr. Applying
medicines; curing.
DOC'TOR-LY, a. Like a learned
man. – Bp. Hall.
DOC'TOR-SHIP, n. The degree or
rank of doctor. – Clarendon.
[Doctorate is now generally
used.]
DOC'TRESS, or DOC'TOR-ESS, n. A female physician
