Paregoric
//pæɹɪˈɡɒɹɪk// adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A painkiller; a medicine which soothes or relieves pain; specifically the traditional patent medicine consisting of camphorated tincture of opium. countable, uncountable
"They bought paregoric in the drug store and drank it. They formed a drugged and stupefied line against the side of the drug store building. Studs was so helpless that Red Kelly had to take him home."
- 2 medicine used to treat diarrhea wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Assuaging or soothing pain.
"paregoric elixir"
Example
More examples"They bought paregoric in the drug store and drank it. They formed a drugged and stupefied line against the side of the drug store building. Studs was so helpless that Red Kelly had to take him home."
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek παρηγορικός (parēgorikós, “soothing”), from παρηγορέω (parēgoréō, “to console, comfort”).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.