English Explanatory Dictionary

sedate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of a person or animal, or their behaviour: calm and composed (often in a dignified manner), and avoiding or unaffected by activity or excitement.
  2. Of an object, particularly a building: not overly ornate or showy; not having a strong colour or design.
  3. Of writing: not emotional; calm, composed.
  4. Of one's mind, thoughts, etc.: calm, sober.
  5. Of an object: not moving; at rest, quiet, still; also, moving smoothly and steadily.
verb
  1. To give (a person) a sedative to calm them or put them to sleep; to tranquilize.
  2. To make (someone or something) calm or tranquil; to assuage, to calm, to soothe.

Pronunciation

/sɪˈdeɪt/ /səˈdeɪt/ En-us-sedate.ogg

Word forms

sedate more sedate sedater most sedate sedatest sedates sedating sedated

Etymology

The adjective is derived from Late Middle English sedate (“not painful or sore”), and directly from its etymon Latin sēdātus (“calm, quiet, composed”), participial adjective from sēdō (“to allay, appease, calm, settle; to end, stop”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sed- (“to sit”). Compare English -ate (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘characterized by [the thing specified]’). The verb is partly derived from sēdāt-, a participial stem of sēdō (verb sense 2—“to make (someone or something) calm”; see above), and partly a back-formation from sedation (verb sense 1—“to give (a person) a sedative”) + English -ate (suffix forming verbs). It is first attested slightly later than the adjective.

Synonyms

collected cool placid staid unruffled calm composed cool-headed equable equanimous equanimitable even-keeled even-minded even-tempered imperturbable laid-back level-headed mellow pacate pacific peaceable peaceful phlegmatic quiescent quiet relaxed roolie sedate serene still tranquil unexcited unfazed unflappable unflustered unperturbable unruffable untumultuous austere frightful demure serious grave earnest grievous lack-laughter thoughtful sad sage saturnine solemn solemncholy sober somber sombre stern sweer weightsome weighty unobtrusive

Antonyms

unsedate obtrusive

Related words

sedation sedative

Derived words

saditty sedately sedateness unsedate nonsedating oversedate resedate sedated sedating
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