somniferousadj.
/sɒmˈnɪfərəs/ 1. Inducing sleep; soporific.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [adjective] > causing or inducing sleep
sleepingc1369
sleepy1398
lullingc1440
somnolentc1475
sleepery1513
sleeprife1513
narcotic1526
opiate1543
breed-sleep1582
somnoriferous1583
drowsy1590
dormitive1593
soporiferous1601
somniferous1602
sleep-bringing1605
dormitary1609
hypnotic1625
dormitory1631
papaverous1646
dormant1654
hypnotical1657
somnifyinga1661
sleepifying1662
slumberous1667
soporific1690
somnific1721
somniculous1820
somnorific1865
soporous1866
drowsing1881
narcoleptic1984
1602 T. Dekker Satiro-mastix sig. Lv Twas I that ministred to her chaste bloud, A true somniferous potion, which did steale Her thoughts to sleepe.
1640 R. Brome Antipodes sig. E You slept most part o' th' journey hitherward, The aire was so somniferous.
1663 R. Boyle Some Considerations Usefulnesse Exper. Nat. Philos. ii. App. 345 A safe and moderately somniferous medicine in feavers.
1754 R. Dodsley Agric. in Public Virtue iii. 215 The scarlet poppy..Bows his somniferous head, inviting soon To peaceful slumber the disorder'd mind.
1799 M. Underwood Treat. Dis. Children (ed. 4) I. 360 If it follow any somniferous disease.
1836 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers (1837) ii. 13 The wine..had exerted its somniferous influence.
1876 J. Harley Royle's Man. Materia Med. (ed. 6) 764 The effects..of the other somniferous constituents of opium.
2. Somnolent, sleepy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > drowsiness > [adjective]
winkinga1000
slummy?c1225
anappedc1300
sleepya1325
heavy1382
slumberyc1386
sleepful1398
peisant1484
slumberous1495
drowsy1530
sleepish1530
sleepery1535
slumberinga1538
somnolent1547
heavy-headed1552
drowsy-headed1576
narrow-eyed1607
soporiferous1607
oscitant1625
nodding1631
Morphean1641
dormious1656
somniculous1656
dozed1659
drowsed1667
peeping1673
dozy1693
peepy1699
somniferous1798
noddy1801
dozing1820
head-nodding1832
snory1837
soporific1841
somnolescent1845
swodder1847
adrowse1848
snoozy1877
slumbersome1884
1798 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1799) 2 400 A most somniferous Earl gave violent symptoms of animation.
1809 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. II. v. ii. 11 Those fat, somniferous, respectable families.
Derivatives
somˈniferously adv.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [adverb] > causing or inducing sleep
narcotically1654
soporifically1807
lullingly1834
somniferously1836
hypnagogically1957
1836 New Monthly Mag. 46 13 His translations..were somniferously dull.
a1852 T. Moore Odes upon Cash, Corn & Catholics ix, in Poet. Wks. (1872) 392 A row Of Poppies..Stand forth, somniferously flaming!
1865 E. C. Clayton Cruel Fortune II. 110 By degrees the heat, and the silence,..operated somniferously on Val.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1602