What does "laudanum" mean?
Any of several tinctures of opium, once widely used for various medical purposes and as a recreational drug.
Laudanum
/ˈlɔːdənəm/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of several tinctures of opium, once widely used for various medical purposes and as a recreational drug.
- Grammar: laudanum is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: tincture of opium, alcohol, amobarbital sodium, amytal.
- Useful contrasts: nonnarcotic remedy, nonopioid analgesic.
- Usage evidence: Ever since my recovery from the fever I had been in the custom of taking every night a small quantity of laudanum; for it was by means of this drug only that I was enabled to gain the rest necessary for the preservation of life.
How to use "laudanum"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "laudanum" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "laudanum" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "laudanum" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "tincture of opium" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of several tinctures of opium, once widely used for various medical purposes and as a recreational drug. uncountable, usually
"Ever since my recovery from the fever I had been in the custom of taking every night a small quantity of laudanum; for it was by means of this drug only that I was enabled to gain the rest necessary for the preservation of life."
- 2 narcotic consisting of an alcohol solution of opium or any preparation in which opium is the main ingredient wordnet
Verb
- 1 To add laudanum to (a drink or the like). transitive
- 2 To cause (a person) to be high on laudanum. rare
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
nonnarcotic remedynonopioid analgesic
Example
"Ever since my recovery from the fever I had been in the custom of taking every night a small quantity of laudanum; for it was by means of this drug only that I was enabled to gain the rest necessary for the preservation of life."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "laudanum"?
Common synonyms include: tincture of opium, alcohol, amobarbital sodium, amytal, amytal pill, analgesic.
How do you use "laudanum" in a sentence?
Ever since my recovery from the fever I had been in the custom of taking every night a small quantity of laudanum; for it was by means of this drug only that I was enabled to gain the rest necessary for the preservation of life.
How do you pronounce "laudanum"?
Pronounced /ˈlɔːdənəm/.
Etymology
From New Latin, from lādanum (“a gum resin”), from Ancient Greek λᾱ́δανον (lā́danon). Originally the same word as ladanum, labdanum, compare French laudanum, Italian laudano, ladano. Perhaps influenced by Latin laudō (“to praise”). See ladanum. Used by Paracelsus to refer to ladanum gum, and to a compound recipe containing pearls, but apparently not to any preparation of opium; this modern sense was introduced by his followers (Sigerist 1941:540–1).