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calmative

[ kah-muh-tiv, kal-muh- ]
/ ˈkɑ mə tɪv, ˈkæl mə- /
Medicine/Medical
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adjective

having a sedative effect.

noun

a calmative agent.

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RELATED WORDS

soft, soothing, mesmerizing, medication, opiate, narcotic, calming, anodyne, soporific, lenitive, anesthetic, dope, drug, hypnotic, analgesic, depressant, downer, tranquillizer, barbiturate, pacifier

Nearby words

  1. callow,
  2. calloway,
  3. calloway, cab,
  4. callus,
  5. calm,
  6. calmette,
  7. calmly,
  8. calmness,
  9. calmodulin,
  10. calmy

Origin of calmative

First recorded in 1865–70; calm + -ative
Related formsun·cal·ma·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for calmative

calmative

/ (ˈkælmətɪv, ˈkɑːmə-) /

adjective

(of a remedy or agent) sedative

noun

a sedative remedy or drug
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for calmative

calmative

adj.

by 1831, from French calmatif; see calm (adj.) + -ative. A hybrid word; purists prefer sedative. "The Latinic suffix is here defensible on the ground of It. and Sp. calmar, F. calmer ...." [OED].

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for calmative

calmative

[ kä′mə-tĭv, kăl′mə- ]

adj.

Having relaxing or pacifying properties.

n.

A sedative.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.