paregoric

American  

[par-i-gawr-ik, -gor-] / ˌpær ɪˈgɔr ɪk, -ˈgɒr- /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a camphorated tincture of opium, containing benzoic acid, anise oil, etc., used chiefly to stop diarrhea in children.

2. any soothing medicine; anodyne.

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adjective

1. Archaic.  assuaging pain; soothing.

paregoric British  

/ ˌpærəˈɡɒrɪk /

noun

1. a medicine containing opium, benzoic acid, camphor (English paregoric) or ammonia (Scottish paregoric), and anise oil, formerly widely used to relieve diarrhoea and coughing in children

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Etymology

Origin of paregoric

1675–85; < Late Latin parēgoricus < Greek parēgorikós soothing, equivalent to parḗgor ( os ) pertaining to consolatory speech (equivalent to par- par- + -ēgor-, combining form of agorā́ agora ¹ + -os adj. suffix) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

“Only that big? It felt like a house. Look, dear,” said Faye, “open that second drawer where my medicine is. Bring the paregoric and a piece of cotton. Will you help me pack this tooth?”

From Literature

Sometimes she carried them herself in a basket, and she always gave them a few drops of paregoric so they would keep quiet.

From Literature

At 10, she would scrape opium-based paregoric powder from old medicine bottles.

From Washington Times

The administration of alcohol to infants, of gin and whiskey, of essences of peppermint and anise, to relieve colic or induce sleep, and the dosing with opiates like paregoric, are also well-established causes of idiocy.

From Project Gutenberg

"I trust I shall not be paregoric to him," said Pillgrim.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• medicinal
• therapeutic