stomachic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/ObsoleteTechnical, Historical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “stomachic” mean?
relating to the stomach or digestive system.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
relating to the stomach or digestive system; promoting appetite or digestion.
Describing a substance (e.g., a medicine, herb, or spice) that stimulates the stomach or aids digestion. Historically used more broadly in medicine and herbalism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage, though it might appear slightly more often in British texts relating to traditional/herbal medicine.
Connotations
Both varieties: archaic, technical, medicinal.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, effectively obsolete outside specific technical or historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “stomachic” in a Sentence
[substance] is stomachic[substance] has a stomachic effectto take something for its stomachic propertiesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stomachic” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The herbalist recommended a stomachic tea made from gentian root to stimulate digestion after the rich meal.
- In his 18th-century treatise, he listed ginger and cardamom as stomachic spices.
American English
- The old pharmacopeia described this bitter tincture as a reliable stomachic agent.
- He found references to the plant's stomachic properties in a frontier medicine book.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical or philological texts, or papers on the history of medicine/pharmacy.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
May appear in archaic or traditional herbalism/pharmacology texts, or in the description of historical treatments.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stomachic”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stomachic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stomachic”
- Using it in modern contexts where 'digestive aid' or 'appetiser' would be appropriate. Pronouncing it as /ˈstʌm.ək.ɪk/ (like 'stomach').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or highly technical. You will almost never encounter it in everyday speech or modern writing.
It is primarily used as an adjective (e.g., 'a stomachic remedy'). It can also be a noun referring to the substance itself (e.g., 'gentian is a stomachic').
'Digestive' is the closest common synonym (e.g., 'digestive aid'). 'Carminative' is a more precise technical synonym for agents that relieve gas.
For comprehension of older texts (literature, historical documents, herbalism). It demonstrates how language changes, especially in specialised fields like medicine.
Stomachic is usually technical, historical, literary in register.
Stomachic: in British English it is pronounced /stəˈmæk.ɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /stoʊˈmæk.ɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'STOMACH' + 'IC' (meaning 'pertaining to'). It's literally 'stomach-related'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STOMACH IS A CONTAINER/ORGAN REQUIRING STIMULATION (e.g., a 'tonic' stimulates it).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'stomachic' be most appropriately used today?