narcotic
UK /nɑːˈkɒtɪk/ · US /nɑɹˈkɑtɪk/ noun, adjective
Forms narcotics narcotick
- noun (pharmacology) Any substance or drug that reduces pain, induces sleep and may alter mood or behaviour; in some contexts, especially in reference to the opiates-and-opioids class, especially in reference to illegal drugs, and often both.
- noun Any type of numbing or soothing drug.
- adjective Of, or relating to narcotics.
- adjective (pharmacology) Inducing sleep; causing narcosis.
Synonyms
narcotics narcotizing narcotising soporiferous soporific
Etymology
From Middle English narcotyk, from Middle French narcotique (from Old French narcotique, noun use of adjective) and directly from Medieval Latin narcōticum, from Ancient Greek ναρκωτῐκόν (narkōtĭkón), neuter of ναρκωτῐκός (narkōtĭkós), from Ancient Greek ναρκόω (narkóō, “to benumb”), from νάρκη (nárkē, “numbness, torpor”).
From Middle French narcotique or German narkotisch and directly from Medieval Latin narcōticus, from Ancient Greek ναρκωτῐκός (narkōtĭkós).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Having the properties of a narcotic; operating as a narcotic.
- noun A drug which, in medicinal doses, generally allays morbid susceptibility, relieves pain, and produces sleep; but which, in poisonous doses, produces stupor, coma, or convulsions, and, when given in sufficient quantity, causes death. The best examples are opium (with morphine), belladonna (with atropine), and conium.
Etymology [F. narcotique, Gr. na`rkh numbness, torpor.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “narcotic”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details