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sedative

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛdətɪv/

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Definition of sedative

adjective

  • promoting calm or inducing sleep:the seeds have a sedative effect

noun

  • a drug taken for its calming or sleep-inducing effect: she won’t let them give her sedatives because of the baby a mild sedative

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French sedatif or medieval Latin sedativus, from Latin sedat- 'settled', from the verb sedare (see sedate1)

sedative in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of sedative in the US English dictionary