genees

Genees is a term found in Dutch- and Afrikaans-language contexts that relates to healing, curing, and medical treatment. In everyday Dutch, the standing noun genees is uncommon in modern usage; more common are related terms such as geneesmiddel (a medicine or drug), geneeskunde (the science or practice of medicine), and phrases built from the root genees. In Afrikaans, genees functions as a verb meaning to cure or heal (for example, iemand genees means to heal someone), and the noun form around medicines is geneesmiddel.

Etymology and scope: The word originates from the verb genezen, meaning to heal or to cure. This root appears across Dutch and Afrikaans in various compounds and inflected forms that express the broader domain of healing, medicine, and therapy. Historically, older Dutch texts sometimes used genees in a more general sense of a remedy or a healer, though such usage is less common today.

Modern usage: In contemporary Dutch, the practical vocabulary for medical treatment emphasizes geneeskunde and geneesmiddelen, with genees appearing mainly in compound forms or in historical or regional writings. In Afrikaans, the term is more productive in everyday speech as part of the verb genees and the common noun geneesmiddel, which denotes medicines. The historical form geneesheer also appears in older contexts as a title for a physician in some Dutch-speaking areas.

See also: Medicine, Pharmacology, Healing, Physician, Medical terminology. Note that in English-language contexts, genees is typically translated as cure, remedy, or medicine, depending on the specific usage.