soporific
pronunciation
How to pronounce soporific in British English:
UK [ˌsɒpəˈrɪfɪk]
How to pronounce soporific in American English:
US [ˌsɑpəˈrɪfɪk]
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- Noun:
- a drug that induces sleep
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- Adjective:
- sleep inducing
- inducing mental lethargy
Word Origin
- soporific (adj.)
- "tending to produce sleep," 1680s, from French soporifique (17c.), formed in French from Latin sopor (genitive soporis) "deep sleep" (see sopor). As a noun from 1722. Earlier as an adjective was soporiferous (1580s as "characterized by excessive sleep," c. 1600 as "soporific").
Example
- 1. They certainly had a very soporific effect upon the flopsy bunnies !
- 2. This drug is benignly soporific .
- 3. Plenty of evidence suggests that choice can act as an energiser , not a soporific .
- 4. But there have always been what she calls " candy alarmists , " who warned that candy was too stimulating , too soporific , poisoned , or otherwise hazardous .
- 5. Whereas mrs clinton 's is soporific , mr giuliani 's makes the reader sit up and gasp .