from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Placebo \Pla*ce"bo\, n. [L., I shall please, fut. of placere to
please.]
1. (R. C. Ch.) The first antiphon of the vespers for the
dead.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Med.) A prescription with no pharmacological activity
given to a patient to humor or satisfy the desire for
medical treatment.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Med.) a dose of a compound having no pharmacological
activity given to a subject in a medical experiment as
part of a control experiment in a test of the
effectiveness of another, active pharmacological agent.
[PJC]
{To sing placebo}, to agree with one in his opinion; to be
complaisant to. --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]