hypnotic

[ hip-not-ik ]

/ hɪpˈnɒt ɪk /

adjective

of or relating to hypnosis or hypnotism.

inducing or like something that induces hypnosis.

susceptible to hypnotism, as a person.

inducing sleep.

noun

an agent or drug that produces sleep; sedative.

a person who is susceptible to hypnosis.

a person under the influence of hypnotism.

Nearby words

Origin of hypnotic

1680–90; < Late Latin hypnōticus < Greek hypnōtikós sleep-inducing, narcotic, equivalent to hypnō- (variant stem of hypnoûn to put to sleep; see Hypnos) + -tikos -tic

Related forms

hyp·not·i·cal·ly, adverban·ti·hyp·not·ic, adjective, nounan·ti·hyp·not·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·hyp·not·ic, adjective, noun

non·hyp·not·i·cal·ly, adverbpre·hyp·not·ic, adjectiveun·hyp·not·ic, adjectiveun·hyp·not·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hypnotically

The two women turned, as if hypnotically obedient to her command.
The Best Short Stories of 1917|Various
And her whisper was such that he passed the weapon, as it were hypnotically, to her under the blind.
Hugo|Arnold Bennett
Verkan Vall shouted them down, drawing on his hypnotically acquired knowledge of Akor-Neb duelling customs.
Last Enemy|Henry Beam Piper
Hypnotically, Jimmy Holden watched the stranger test the temples and wrists and try a hand under his father's heart.
The Fourth R|George Oliver Smith

Besides, though refusing to see a doctor, I stopped in bed for days, and hypnotically impressed the idea of a sprain on every one.
Secret History Revealed By Lady Peggy O'Malley|C. N. Williamson and A. M. Williamson

British Dictionary definitions for hypnotically

hypnotic

/ (hɪpˈnɒtɪk) /

adjective

of, relating to, or producing hypnosis or sleep

(of a person) susceptible to hypnotism

noun

a drug or agent that induces sleep

a person susceptible to hypnosis

Derived Formshypnotically, adverb

Word Origin for hypnotic

C17: from Late Latin hypnōticus, from Greek hupnōtikos, from hupnoun to put to sleep, from hupnos sleep

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 hypnotically

hypnotic

adj.

1620s, "inducing sleep," originally used of drugs, from French hypnotique (16c.) "inclined to sleep, soporific," from Late Latin hypnoticus, from Greek hypnotikos "inclined to sleep, putting to sleep, sleepy," from hypnoun "put to sleep," from hypnos "sleep" (see somnolence). Modern sense of "pertaining to an induced trance" first recorded in English 1843, along with hypnotist, hypnotize, both coined by Dr. James Braid. Related: Hypnotical; hypnotically.

Medicine definitions for hypnotically

hypnotic

[ hĭp-nŏt′ĭk ]

adj.

Of or relating to hypnotism or hypnosis.

Inducing or tending to induce sleep; soporific.

n.

An agent that causes sleep.