English Explanatory Dictionary

anodyne

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Capable of soothing or eliminating pain.
  2. Soothing or relaxing.
  3. Noncontentious, blandly agreeable, unlikely to cause offence or debate.
noun
  1. Any medicine or other agent that relieves pain.
  2. A source of relaxation or comfort.

Pronunciation

/ˈæn.ə.daɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-anodyne.wav

Word forms

anodyne more anodyne most anodyne anodynes

Etymology

From Middle English anodine, from Medieval Latin anōdynos (“stilling or relieving pain”), from Ancient Greek ἀνώδυνος (anṓdunos, “free from pain”), from ἀν- (an-, “without”) + ὀδύνη (odúnē, “pain”). Adjective sense “noncontentious” probably through French anodin (“harmless, trivial”), of same origin.

Synonyms

analgesic antalgesic antipain pain-relieving painkilling innocuous bland inoffensive uncontentious uncontroversial unexceptionable unprovocative harmless neutral

Derived words

anodyne necklace anodynia anodynic anodynous chlorodyne
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