soporiferous

[ sop-uh-rif-er-uhs, soh-puh- ]

/ ˌsɒp əˈrɪf ər əs, ˌsoʊ pə- /

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adjective

bringing sleep; soporific.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

Origin of soporiferous

1580–90; <Latin sopōrifer (sopōr-, combining form of soporsopor + -i--i- + -fer-fer) + -ous

sop·o·rif·er·ous·ly, adverbsop·o·rif·er·ous·ness, nounun·sop·o·rif·er·ous, adjectiveun·sop·o·rif·er·ous·ly, adverb

un·sop·o·rif·er·ous·ness, noun

One of these, Erdaviraph, a young but holy prelate, received from the hands of his brethren three cups of soporiferous wine.
The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|Edward Gibbon
As we did not speak above a whisper, a very soporiferous proceeding, I was not surprised that both Toby and William fell asleep.
James Braithwaite, the Supercargo|W.H.G. Kingston
Happily, however, that soporiferous monotony is beginning to get obsolete.
The Wanderer (Volume 3 of 5)|Fanny Burney
If I rouse not now, I must have more soporiferous qualities than the Sleepers!
The Wanderer (Volume 3 of 5)|Fanny Burney

At last the soporiferous fume of the wine lulled him into a gentle repose.
Voltaire's Romances|Franois-Marie Arouet