narcosis

[nahr-koh-sis]

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noun

a state of stupor or drowsiness.

a state of stupor or greatly reduced activity produced by a drug.Compare nitrogen narcosis.

Origin of narcosis

1685–95; < New Latin < Greek nárkōsis. See narc-, -osis

Also called narcotism.

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

Related Words for narcosis

coma, trance, slumber, puzzlement, bewilderment, perplexity, stupor, inertness, lethargy, sleep, languor, anesthesia, swoon, stupefaction, torpor, insensibility, hebetude, amazement, inertia, numbness

Examples from the Web for narcosis

Historical Examples of narcosis

Ants show similar symptoms after narcosis by means of chloroform.
Criminal Man
Gina Lombroso-Ferrero
He sees already that it is not stimulus but narcosis which is ruining the drunkard.
Tobacco and Alcohol
John Fiske
It is thus probable that no alcohol can be transformed after narcosis begins.
Tobacco and Alcohol
John Fiske
The narcosis has no relation to the stimulation but one of accidental sequence.
Tobacco and Alcohol
John Fiske
The very air of the room was heavy with the narcosis of embarrassment.
The Helpers
Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for narcosis

narcosis

noun

unconsciousness induced by narcotics or general anaesthetics

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 narcosis

1690s, "state of unconsciousness caused by a narcotic," Modern Latin, from Greek narkosis, from narkoun "to benumb" (see narcotic (n.)).

narcosis in Medicine

narcosis

[när-kō′sĭs]

n. pl. nar•co•ses (-sēz)

General and nonspecific reversible depression of neuronal excitability, produced by a physical or chemical agent, usually resulting in stupor rather than in anesthesia.