Why are Doctors just practicing medicine? When will they finish practicing and just start doing?

Did we already discuss this?

Of course, in England they practise medicine - but they do it in a medical practice!

Equally strange.

Well, there's always been a difference between seeing (the theoretical) and doing (the practical). The Greek origin of the word practice is πρακτικος (praktikos) 'fit for, concerned with action, practical' from the verb πρασσω (prassō) 'to pass over; to do; to practice'. (And theory is θεωρια (theōria) 'viewing, beholding' from θεωρος (theōros) 'envoy; spectator'.)

We also get pragmatic πραγμα (pragma) 'that which has been done, deed, act' and praxis πρακσις (praksis) 'doing, transaction, business' from the same verb.

Both senses are almost the same age: it first meant 'perform a skill' (1500 or a bit before), then soon came to mean 'exercise oneself in a skill to gain proficiency' (early to mid 1500s).

Interesting question. And it isn't only doctors who practice; nurses, dentists, and lawyers practice. Accountants have a practice, but I don't know if they practice accountancy. I am likewise not sure if pharmacists practice; I've never heard the term applied to them. Generally I think the professionals practice their professions.

And of course you can practice your faith, presumably because you are not perfect.

I may regret this because there's quite a bit. My dictionary dates the word 'practice' from 1494, developing from the word 'practyse'.

1494 - The action of scheming, especially in an underhand way and for an evil purpose
1509 - A customary or constant action.
1525 - Exercise in any art for the purpose of attaining proficiency.
1539 - A scheme, plot, intrigue.
1540 - Conspiracy, intrigue, collusion (between persons)
1553 - The action of doing something.
1565 - An action or deed; pl. doings.
1568 - A habit or custom.
1574 - A compendious method of performing multiplication by means of aliquot parts.
1576 - The exercise of a profession or occupation. A lawyer or medical man.
1614 - The action or act of practising on a person.
1623 - The method of procedure in the law courts.
1712 - An exercise; a practical treatise.

Now, how about 'practise':

1460 - To perform, execute, carry on.
1526 - To make a practice of; to carry out an action.
1537 - To lay schemes or plans for an evil purpose.
1538 - To exercise the profession of law or medicine.
1538 - To have dealings, to negotiate with a person.
1542 - Experienced by practice; skilled, versed, proficient.
1553 - To act work, proceed, operate.
1560 - To exercise, pursue an occupation, profession or art.
1596 - To exercise oneself in the performance of music with the view of gaining skill.
1596 - To practise tricks upon. To delude a person or his feelings.
1598 - To train, drill.
1634 - To plot or conspire some evil.
1674 - To be wont.
1681 - To act habitually.
1685 - To work out a problem or to perform/act in a play.
1711 - To devise means to bring about a result.
1715 - To influence a person by underhand dealings.
1718 - To frequent, haunt.
1736 - To bring about, compass, effect.
1740 - To put to practical use.
1771 - To put into practice, execute (a law, command etc.)
1802 - To make trial of practically.


I wasn't previously aware that it had so many negative meanings and I wonder if its use in relation to lawyers and doctors had anything to do with the way they were viewed by the general population.

Just fascinating, Doad. I do love that "trusty" dictionary of yours! I hadn't been aware either of the "scheme, plot, conspire some evil, delude" etc. definitions. I surely don't see it as coming from physicians since they are usually well respected. I am not sure about lawyers, but the ones I know are pretty darned good (my husband and law-student daughter).

OOhh- I had no idea there was a negative meaning at all! How interesting.

I wonder if the evil and scheming nature of the word had something to do with a fear of witchcraft at that time, after all, witchcraft is also something that is referred to as being practiced.