cure

cure n *remedy, medicine, medicament, medication, specific, physic

cure vb Cure, heal, remedy mean to rectify an unhealthy or undesirable condition especially by some specific treatment (as medication).

Cure and heal may apply interchangeably to both wounds and diseases

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pierced to the soul with slander's venomed spear, the which no balm can cure— Shak.

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physician, heal thyself— Lk 4:23

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Often, however, they tend to be differentiated in such applications, cure more frequently implying restoration to health after disease, heal implying restoration to soundness of an affected part after a wound or lesion

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the treatment failed to cure his headache

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the salve will heal slight burns

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his fever . . . might cure him of his tendency to epilepsy— Byron

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I . . . must not break my back to heal his finger— Shak.

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In extended use a similar distinction often holds, with cure applicable when a condition (as a state of mind or a habit of behavior) is under discussion and heal when a specific incident or event is involved; thus, one would seek to cure (not heal) mistrust but to heal (rather than cure) a breach between friends

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if you can compass it, do cure the younger girls of running after the officers— Austen

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we are denied the one thing that might heal us . . . that might bring balm to the bruised heart, and peace to the soul in pain— Wilde

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Remedy (see also REMEDY n) applies to the using of whatever will correct or relieve an abnormal condition (as of body or mind) whether affecting physical or mental health or causing mere local or occasional discomfort

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who . . . may likeliest remedy the stricken mind— S out hey

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In extended use (see also CORRECT vb 1) remedy is often used in reference to evil conditions corrected, relieved, or counteracted by any means

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remedy an abuse

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remedy the breakdown of international prestige— Ascoli

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