Narcotic

Narcotic

Noun / Adjective · /nɑːˈkɒt.ɪk/

Definition

(Noun) a drug that relieves pain and induces sleep or stupor, especially one derived from opium; any illegal addictive drug; (Adjective) relating to or producing a narcotic effect — tending to relieve pain, induce sleep, or produce stupor.

Origin

From Medieval Latin narcoticum, from Greek narkōtikon (making numb), from narkōn (to make numb), from narkē (numbness, torpor). The same Greek narkē giving narcosis (a state of stupor or unconsciousness induced by drugs), narcissism (from Narcissus — though the connection being indirect through the Greek name), and the electric ray fish narcē (which stuns prey with electric shocks). The Indo-European root being *snergh- (to twist, constrict), related to Sanskrit snr̥hati.