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make medicine
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
1a
enter upon certain rituals intended to gain the help of the gods in warding off evil or sickness, in ensuring a good hunt or successful war, in bringing harm to enemies, etc.
See: medicine(def. 3)
Quotations
1802
An Indian made medicine to ask his Manitou whether a certain sick person would recover.
1896
They thought we were making "medicine" against them, but were won over by Heming drawing the moose and the caribou, while they watched the animals they knew so well develop under his pencil.
1923
The medicine man makes medicines (i.e., symbols, or inimical thoughts) against a man, and promptly that unlucky individual falls ill.
1b — Figurative use
See quotes.
Quotations
1956
When I dropped around to make medicine with him, the girl in the office told me he had left the Company.
1957
"If he [an angry bull] makes medicine, so will I!" retorted the postie.