← Latin for Medics, Pharmacists and Herbalists
The verb faciō (I do, I make) is one of the most important and frequently used verbs in Latin, particularly in medical, pharmaceutical, and herbal contexts. This third conjugation -iō verb is essential for describing the preparation of medicines, the creation of remedies, and the performance of medical procedures.
Definition: faciō is an irregular third conjugation verb meaning "to do, to make, to perform, to cause, to bring about." In medical Latin, it often appears in instructions for preparing medications, describing therapeutic actions, and explaining physiological processes.
Question: What does faciō mean in Latin? Answer: Faciō means "I do" or "I make" in Latin. It is a third conjugation -iō verb with principal parts: faciō, facere, fēcī, factum. In medical contexts, it commonly refers to preparing medicines, performing procedures, or causing effects.
In this lesson, faciō and its various forms will appear in medical prescriptions, herbal preparation instructions, and descriptions of therapeutic actions. You'll encounter it in contexts ranging from simple remedy preparation to complex pharmaceutical processes.
Course: Latin for Medical Professionals Level: Intermediate Topic: Essential Medical Verbs Learning Objective: Master the use of faciō in medical, pharmaceutical, and herbal contexts Prerequisites: Basic Latin grammar, knowledge of noun cases
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faciō is essential for medical instructions and prescriptions -
It forms many compound verbs important in medicine (cōnficiō, efficciō, perficiō) -
The passive voice is frequently used in pharmaceutical texts -
Understanding this verb is crucial for reading historical medical texts and modern pharmaceutical Latin
32.1 Medicus physician ūnctūram ointment ex from herbīs herbs facit makes
32.2 Pharmacopola pharmacist remedia remedies secundum according to praescrīptiōnem prescription facit prepares
32.3 Faciō I make dēcoctum decoction ex from cortice bark salicis of willow
32.4 Herbārius herbalist tīnctūram tincture novam new hodiē today fēcit made
32.5 Emplastrum plaster ex from rēsinā resin et and cērā wax faciendum must be made est is
32.6 Fac make mixtūram mixture cum with aquā water tepidā warm
32.7 Pilulae pills ex from extractō extract factae made sunt are
32.8 Medicus doctor incīsiōnem incision parvam small facit makes
32.9 Faciēmus we will make cataplasma poultice ex from fārīnā flour līnī of linseed
32.10 Īnfūsum infusion ex from foliīs leaves mentae of mint fit is made
32.11 Sanguinem blood fluidum fluid hoc this medicāmentum medicine facit makes
32.12 Facite make gargarisma gargle ex from sale salt et and aquā water
32.13 Dēcoctum decoction fortius stronger fierī to be made debet ought
32.14 Vīnum wine medicātum medicated sīc thus faciunt they make
32.15 Collyrium eye-wash ex from rosīs roses factum made oculōs eyes sanat heals
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32.1 Medicus ūnctūram ex herbīs facit. The physician makes an ointment from herbs.
32.2 Pharmacopola remedia secundum praescrīptiōnem facit. The pharmacist prepares remedies according to the prescription.
32.3 Faciō dēcoctum ex cortice salicis. I make a decoction from willow bark.
32.4 Herbārius tīnctūram novam hodiē fēcit. The herbalist made a new tincture today.
32.5 Emplastrum ex rēsinā et cērā faciendum est. A plaster must be made from resin and wax.
32.6 Fac mixtūram cum aquā tepidā. Make a mixture with warm water.
32.7 Pilulae ex extractō factae sunt. Pills have been made from the extract.
32.8 Medicus incīsiōnem parvam facit. The doctor makes a small incision.
32.9 Faciēmus cataplasma ex fārīnā līnī. We will make a poultice from linseed flour.
32.10 Īnfūsum ex foliīs mentae fit. An infusion is made from mint leaves.
32.11 Sanguinem fluidum hoc medicāmentum facit. This medicine makes the blood fluid.
32.12 Facite gargarisma ex sale et aquā. Make a gargle from salt and water.
32.13 Dēcoctum fortius fierī debet. The decoction ought to be made stronger.
32.14 Vīnum medicātum sīc faciunt. They make medicated wine thus.
32.15 Collyrium ex rosīs factum oculōs sanat. Eye-wash made from roses heals the eyes.
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32.1 Medicus ūnctūram ex herbīs facit.
32.2 Pharmacopola remedia secundum praescrīptiōnem facit.
32.3 Faciō dēcoctum ex cortice salicis.
32.4 Herbārius tīnctūram novam hodiē fēcit.
32.5 Emplastrum ex rēsinā et cērā faciendum est.
32.6 Fac mixtūram cum aquā tepidā.
32.7 Pilulae ex extractō factae sunt.
32.8 Medicus incīsiōnem parvam facit.
32.9 Faciēmus cataplasma ex fārīnā līnī.
32.10 Īnfūsum ex foliīs mentae fit.
32.11 Sanguinem fluidum hoc medicāmentum facit.
32.12 Facite gargarisma ex sale et aquā.
32.13 Dēcoctum fortius fierī debet.
32.14 Vīnum medicātum sīc faciunt.
32.15 Collyrium ex rosīs factum oculōs sanat.
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Conjugation: faciō belongs to the third conjugation -iō verbs, which combine features of third and fourth conjugations.
Principal Parts: -
faciō - I do, I make (present active) -
facere - to do, to make (infinitive) -
fēcī - I did, I made (perfect active) -
factum - done, made (perfect passive participle)
Present Active Indicative: -
faciō - I make -
facis - you make -
facit - he/she/it makes -
facimus - we make -
facitis - you (pl.) make -
faciunt - they make
Present Passive Indicative: -
fīō - I am made/I become (irregular) -
fīs - you are made -
fit - it is made -
fīmus - we are made -
fītis - you (pl.) are made -
fīunt - they are made
Imperative: -
fac - make! (singular) -
facite - make! (plural)
Gerundive: faciendus, -a, -um (must be made) Present Participle: faciēns, facientis (making) Perfect Passive Participle: factus, -a, -um (made)
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Confusing fīō with faciō: Remember that fīō (I become/am made) serves as the passive of faciō -
Forgetting the long ē in fēcī: The perfect stem has a long vowel -
Using regular passive forms: faciō uses fīō, fierī for its passive, not *facior -
Imperative confusion: The imperative is fac, not *face
Unlike English, which uses auxiliary verbs ("is made," "has been made"), Latin expresses these concepts through the passive forms of faciō (using fīō) and participles. English speakers often struggle with the idea that "fīō" means both "I become" and "I am made."
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Identifying the construction: Look for faciō + double accusative -
Example: "Medicus eum sānum facit" (The doctor makes him healthy) -
Passive transformation: -
Active: Medicus remedium facit (The doctor makes a remedy) -
Passive: Remedium ā medicō fit (A remedy is made by the doctor) -
Gerundive of obligation: -
Medicina facienda est = Medicine must be made -
Note the agreement: facienda agrees with medicina
faciō is essential in medical Latin for: -
Describing preparation methods (facit, faciunt) -
Giving instructions (fac, facite) -
Expressing necessity (faciendum est) -
Describing processes (fit, fīunt) -
Indicating completed preparations (factus, -a, -um)
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For English speakers learning medical Latin, understanding faciō provides insight into both ancient and modern pharmaceutical practices. In Roman medicine, the verb appeared constantly in medical texts, from Celsus's De Medicina to medieval pharmaceutical manuscripts.
The Romans distinguished between different types of "making" in medicine: -
Cōnficere (to prepare completely) - used for complex pharmaceutical preparations -
Efficere (to bring about, effect) - used for therapeutic outcomes -
Perficere (to complete perfectly) - used for finishing medicinal preparations
In medieval monasteries, where much pharmaceutical knowledge was preserved, monks used faciō in their herbals and antidotaries (collections of antidotes). The phrase "fac secundum artem" (make according to the art) became a standard instruction meaning "prepare using proper pharmaceutical technique."
Modern pharmaceutical Latin still employs faciō in: -
Fiat (let it be made) - abbreviated as "ft." in prescriptions -
Fac tale doses (make such doses) - for preparing multiple doses -
Misce fiat unguentum (mix, let an ointment be made) - abbreviated as "m.f. ung."
Understanding these historical uses helps modern medical professionals appreciate the continuity of pharmaceutical tradition and decode historical medical texts that remain valuable for understanding traditional remedies.
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From Scribonius Largus, Compositiones (1st century CE), Recipe 271:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Ad for dentium of teeth dolōrem pain ūnctūra ointment quae which celeriter quickly facit helps: pipere pepper albo white et and sale salt aequīs equal ponderibus in weights trītīs ground et and in in ūnum one redāctīs reduced gingivae gums tangendae must be touched sunt are. Mox soon os mouth tepidā with warm aquā water conluendum must be rinsed est is.
Ad dentium dolōrem ūnctūra quae celeriter facit: pipere albo et sale aequīs ponderibus trītīs et in ūnum redāctīs gingivae tangendae sunt. Mox os tepidā aquā conluendum est.
For toothache, an ointment which helps quickly: the gums must be touched with white pepper and salt ground in equal weights and reduced to one mass. Soon the mouth must be rinsed with warm water.
Ad dentium dolōrem ūnctūra quae celeriter facit: pipere albo et sale aequīs ponderibus trītīs et in ūnum redāctīs gingivae tangendae sunt. Mox os tepidā aquā conluendum est.
This passage demonstrates several important uses of faciō and related constructions: -
"facit" without object: Here means "helps" or "works" rather than "makes" -
Ablative absolute: "ponderibus trītīs et...redāctīs" (with weights ground and reduced) -
Gerundives of obligation: "tangendae sunt" (must be touched), "conluendum est" (must be rinsed) -
Medical prescription style: Brief, direct instructions using passive constructions
Scribonius Largus's pharmaceutical Latin shows the practical application of faciō in medical contexts, where efficiency and clarity were paramount.
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This is an excellent collection of pharmaceutical and medical recipes from medieval Latin medical texts. Here are some key observations:
Recipe Structure: - Ex/Prō + ablative = "from/for" - Fac/Facite = "make" (imperative) - Fierī iubet/praecipit = "orders/prescribes to be made"
| Item | Ingredients | Purpose | |------|-------------|---------| | 32.16 | Chamomile flowers | Stomach pain | | 32.17 | Valerian root in wine | Sleep | | 32.18 | Plantain juice + honey | Cough | | 32.20 | Pig fat + sulfur | Itch/scabies | | 32.22 | Cinnamon bark tincture | Warming stomach | | 32.24 | Violet syrup | Chest benefit | | 32.27 | Myrrh + frankincense powder | Wounds | | 32.28 | Barley flour poultice | Heat application |
- infūsum, dēcoctum, syrupus = different preparation methods - unguentum, emplastrum, cataplasma = topical applications - tīnctūra, oleum = liquid extracts
This reads like a pharmacopoeia section teaching medical preparation techniques! ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
32.16 Recipe flōrēs chamomillae et fac īnfūsum prō dolōre ventris. Take chamomile flowers and make an infusion for stomach pain.
32.17 Radīcēs valeriānae in vīnō coque et fac potionem somniferam. Cook valerian roots in wine and make a sleep-inducing potion.
32.18 Ex sūcō plantāginis et melie faciēs remedium ad tussim. From plantain juice and honey you will make a remedy for cough.
32.19 Pharmacopola pilulās purgātīvās ex aloē facit. The pharmacist makes purgative pills from aloe.
32.20 Fac unguentum ex adipie porcī et sulfure prō scabiē. Make an ointment from pig fat and sulfur for the itch.
32.21 Medicus emplastrum ex pice et rēsinā fierī iubet. The physician orders a plaster to be made from pitch and resin.
32.22 Tīnctūra ex cortice cinnāmōmī facta stomachum calefacit. A tincture made from cinnamon bark warms the stomach.
32.23 Facite dēcoctum fortissimum ex radicibus gentiānae. Make a very strong decoction from gentian roots.
32.24 Syrupus ex violīs factus pectorī prōdest. Syrup made from violets benefits the chest.
32.25 Herbārius oleum ex seminibus līnī facit. The herbalist makes oil from flax seeds.
32.26 Faciendum est collyrium ex aquā rosārum. An eye-wash must be made from rose water.
32.27 Pulvis ex myrrā et thure fit ad vulnera. A powder is made from myrrh and frankincense for wounds.
32.28 Fēcimus cataplasma calidum ex farīnā hordeī. We made a hot poultice from barley flour.
32.29 Medicus gargarisma ex dēcoctō salviae fierī praecipit. The doctor prescribes a gargle to be made from sage decoction.
32.30 Ex foliīs rūtae et acētō fac medicāmentum contrā vertiginem. From rue leaves and vinegar make a medicine against dizziness.
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32.16 Recipe flōrēs chamomillae et fac īnfūsum prō dolōre ventris.
32.17 Radīcēs valeriānae in vīnō coque et fac potionem somniferam.
32.18 Ex sūcō plantāginis et melie faciēs remedium ad tussim.
32.19 Pharmacopola pilulās purgātīvās ex aloē facit.
32.20 Fac unguentum ex adipie porcī et sulfure prō scabiē.
32.21 Medicus emplastrum ex pice et rēsinā fierī iubet.
32.22 Tīnctūra ex cortice cinnāmōmī facta stomachum calefacit.
32.23 Facite dēcoctum fortissimum ex radicibus gentiānae.
32.24 Syrupus ex violīs factus pectorī prōdest.
32.25 Herbārius oleum ex seminibus līnī facit.
32.26 Faciendum est collyrium ex aquā rosārum.
32.27 Pulvis ex myrrā et thure fit ad vulnera.
32.28 Fēcimus cataplasma calidum ex farīnā hordeī.
32.29 Medicus gargarisma ex dēcoctō salviae fierī praecipit.
32.30 Ex foliīs rūtae et acētō fac medicāmentum contrā vertiginem.
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In medical recipes, faciō appears in several characteristic patterns:
1. Imperative Commands -
Simple: "fac unguentum" (make an ointment) -
With conjunction: "coque et fac" (cook and make) -
Plural: "facite dēcoctum" (make a decoction)
2. Passive Constructions -
Present: "fit" (is made) -
Perfect: "factus, -a, -um" (made) -
Gerundive: "faciendum est" (must be made) -
With iubeō: "fierī iubet" (orders to be made)
3. Material Source Expressions Always use "ex" + ablative for ingredients: -
"ex herbīs" (from herbs) -
"ex adipie porcī" (from pig fat) -
"ex sūcō plantāginis" (from plantain juice)
4. Purpose Expressions Three ways to express medicinal purpose: -
"prō" + ablative: "prō dolōre" (for pain) -
"ad" + accusative: "ad tussim" (for cough) -
"contrā" + accusative: "contrā vertiginem" (against dizziness)
5. Recipe Word Order Traditional medical Latin follows specific patterns: -
Ingredient first: "Ex myrrā et thure pulvis fit" -
Imperative at start: "Fac unguentum ex..." -
Subject-final: "Pilulās pharmacopola facit"
Common Medical Vocabulary with faciō: -
Recipe (take) - often starts prescriptions -
Misce (mix) - frequently precedes fac -
Coque (cook) - preparation method before fac -
Solve (dissolve) - another preparation verb
Abbreviations in Historical Texts: -
ft. = fiat (let it be made) -
f. = fac (make) -
m.f. = misce fiat (mix, let it be made)
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This course draws from the innovative language learning methodology developed at Latinum Institute (latinum.org.uk) and described in detail at latinum.substack.com/method. The approach emphasizes natural language acquisition through extensive comprehensible input, following principles that have proven effective since the curator, Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), began creating online language learning materials in 2006.
The course structure reflects several key pedagogical principles:
Interlinear Method: Part A provides word-by-word glossing to build immediate comprehension without constant dictionary consultation. This reduces cognitive load and allows learners to focus on understanding meaning and structure simultaneously. 32.16 Recipe take flōrēs flowers chamomillae of chamomile et and fac make īnfūsum infusion prō for dolōre pain ventris of stomach
32.17 Radīcēs roots valeriānae of valerian in in vīnō wine coque cook et and fac make potionem potion somniferam sleep-bringing
32.18 Ex from sūcō juice plantāginis of plantain et and melie honey faciēs you will make remedium remedy ad for tussim cough
32.19 Pharmacopola pharmacist pilulās pills purgātīvās purgative ex from aloē aloe facit makes
32.20 Fac make unguentum ointment ex from adipie fat porcī of pig et and sulfure sulfur prō for scabiē itch
32.21 Medicus physician emplastrum plaster ex from pice pitch et and rēsinā resin fierī to be made iubet orders
32.22 Tīnctūra tincture ex from cortice bark cinnāmōmī of cinnamon facta made stomachum stomach calefacit warms
32.23 Facite make dēcoctum decoction fortissimum very strong ex from radicibus roots gentiānae of gentian
32.24 Syrupus syrup ex from violīs violets factus made pectorī for chest prōdest benefits
32.25 Herbārius herbalist oleum oil ex from seminibus seeds līnī of flax facit makes
32.26 Faciendum must be made est is collyrium eye-wash ex from aquā water rosārum of roses
32.27 Pulvis powder ex from myrrā myrrh et and thure frankincense fit is made ad for vulnera wounds
32.28 Fēcimus we made cataplasma poultice calidum hot ex from farīnā flour hordeī of barley
32.29 Medicus doctor gargarisma gargle ex from dēcoctō decoction salviae of sage fierī to be made praecipit prescribes
32.30 Ex from foliīs leaves rūtae of rue et and acētō vinegar fac make medicāmentum medicine contrā against vertiginem dizziness
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