laudanum
/'lɔdnəm/
Definition
- Noun:
- A narcotic preparation: Laudanum is a tincture of opium, historically used as a painkiller and sedative. It consists of opium dissolved in alcohol.
Usage
- Laudanum was a common medicinal substance in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- It is now largely obsolete due to its addictive properties and the development of safer alternatives.
Examples
- Noun:
- Victorian doctors sometimes prescribed laudanum for pain and insomnia.
- The historical account described the poet's addiction to laudanum.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The term is primarily used in historical, medical, or literary contexts to describe a past practice.
- The novel's depiction of 19th-century life included references to the widespread use of laudanum.
Variants and Related Words
- Tincture of Opium: A more precise pharmaceutical term for a similar preparation.
- Paregoric: Another historical camphorated tincture of opium, often used to treat diarrhea.
Synonyms
- Opium tincture
- Thebaic tincture (archaic)
Notes
- Laudanum is not a modern pharmaceutical product. Discussions of it typically concern its historical role. Its use is strongly associated with the risk of addiction and overdose.
Noun
-
narcotic consisting of an alcohol solution of opium or any preparation in which opium is the main ingredient
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