sedate

American  

[si-deyt] / sɪˈdeɪt /

adjective

1. calm, quiet, or composed; undisturbed by passion or excitement.

   a sedate party;

   a sedate horse.

   Synonyms:

   unperturbed , unruffled , serene , collected

---

verb (used with object)

sedated, sedating

1. to put (a person) under sedation.

sedate ¹ British  

/ sɪˈdeɪt /

adjective

1. habitually calm and composed in manner; serene

2. staid, sober, or decorous

---

sedate ² British  

/ sɪˈdeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to administer a sedative to

---

Related Words

See staid.

Other Word Forms

• sedately adverb
• sedateness noun
• unsedate adjective
• unsedately adverb
• unsedateness noun

Etymology

Origin of sedate

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin sēdātus (past participle of sēdāre “to allay, quieten”); akin to sedēre “to sit”; sit ¹

Example Sentences

The back of the room — populated with parents, guardians and supervisors — is more sedate.

From Los Angeles Times

Just after 7 a.m. that day, simulated explosions and gunfire echoed through Utena’s otherwise sedate residential streets.

From The Wall Street Journal

They are also highly sensitive to anaesthesia and so cannot be kept sedated for long, a result of their unique build -- "the heart to the brain is quite long," Mijele explained.

From Barron's

Though the outcomes encoded here are colored by midcentury manners, they are surprisingly daring and averse to sedate moralism.

From The Wall Street Journal

I was completely sedated for my previous births, which was the mode of the day, but by the time Sofia was born times had changed, and I was awake and so completely and utterly thrilled!

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• decorous
• dignified
• laid-back
• placid
• quiet
• serene
• sober
• solemn
• somber
• staid
• tranquil
• unflappable