narcotic

• narcotick (obsolete)

• IPA^(key): /nɑː(ɹ)ˈkɒtɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɒtɪk

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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 (narkōtikón), neuter of ναρκωτῐκός (narkōtikós), from Ancient Greek ναρκόω (narkóō, “to benumb”), from νάρκη (nárkē, “numbness, torpor”).[1]

narcotic (plural narcotics)

1. (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.
   • 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London, New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

     "Real San Juan Colorado," he said. "Excitable people like you are the better for narcotics. Heavens! don't bite it! Cut - and cut with reverence!"

2. Any type of numbing or soothing drug.
   • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, Canto V:

     But, for the unquiet heart and brain,
     ⁠A use in measured language lies;
     ⁠The sad mechanic exercise,
     Like dull narcotics, numbing pain.

   • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 139:

     Podson grabbed at his tobacco with a fervent, "God! just about saved my life." With a cigarette going he grabbed at the papers, requiring spiritual sustenance as well as a divine narcotic.

From Middle French narcotique or German narkotisch and directly from Medieval Latin narcōticus, from Ancient Greek ναρκωτῐκός (narkōtikós).[2]

narcotic (comparative more narcotic, superlative most narcotic)

1. Of, or relating to narcotics.

   Synonym: narcotics

2. (pharmacology) Inducing sleep; causing narcosis.

• “narcotic”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

• caticorn, cratonic

Borrowed from French narcotique or German narkotisch.

• IPA^(key): [naɾˈko.tik]

narcotic m or n (feminine singular narcotică, masculine plural narcotici, feminine and neuter plural narcotice)

1. narcotic

   Synonym: somnifer

narcotic n (plural narcotice)

1. narcotic

   Synonym: somnifer

• narcoză