placebo

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Definitions (10)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. noun A substance containing no medication and prescribed or given to reinforce a patient's expectation to get well.
  2. noun An inactive substance or preparation used as a control in an experiment or test to determine the effectiveness of a medicinal drug.
  3. noun Something of no intrinsic remedial value that is used to appease or reassure another.

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This word has been looked up 142 times.

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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Late Latin placēbō, I shall please (the first word of the first antiphon of the service), first person sing. future tense of Latin placēre, to please; see plāk-1 in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Middle English placebo, from Old French placebo, from Latin placebo, I will please; 1st person singular future indicative of placere, please: see please.
 

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/pləˈsiboʊ/
by American Heritage

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