Laudanum (Noun)
Meaning
Narcotic consisting of an alcohol solution of opium or any preparation in which opium is the main ingredient.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- In the 18th century, doctors prescribed laudanum as a cure for everything from indigestion to melancholy.
- During her time as a nurse in the Civil War, she had often used laudanum to dull the pain of wounded soldiers.
- Addicted to the calming effects of laudanum, Emily's grandmother was nearly unresponsive most of the day.
- Her doctor's overprescription of laudanum had made her mother a lifelong addict, a fate that she desperately wanted to avoid for herself.
- Among the various potions and remedies on her shelf was a dusty old bottle of laudanum that hadn't been touched in years.