Dictionary

placebic en · ADJ

Etymology

From placebo + -ic.

Meanings

1. Functioning as a placebo.
   • In the request-only condition, the experimenter said simply 'Excuse me, I have 5 (20) copies. May I use the xerox machine?' In the placebic information condition, this was followed by the phrase 'because I need to make copies'. In the real information condition, the reason offered in support was 'because I am in a rush'. 1986, J. Richard Eiser, Social psychology: attitude, cognition, and social behavior, page 227:
   • Many millions of dollars are expended on drugs, diagnostic tests, and psychotherapies of a placebic nature. 2005, Michael Palmer, Moral Problems in Medicine, page 135:
   • He could invent a fictional restaurant for you to bite your burger at but any fictional restaurant would be, like Nomenex, a worthless simulant or inconcinne imitation, a placebic generic. 2012, Joshua Cohen, Four New Messages:

Forms