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narcotic

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narcotic

Main Entry:: ¹nar·cot·ic
Pronunciation:: \när-ˈkä-tik\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English narkotik, from Middle French narcotique, from narcotique, adjective, from Medieval Latin narcoticus, from Greek narkōtikos, from narkoun to benumb, from narkē numbness — more at snare
Date:: 14th century

1 a: a drug (as opium or morphine) that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions b: a drug (as marijuana or LSD) subject to restriction similar to that of addictive narcotics whether physiologically addictive and narcotic or not2: something that soothes, relieves, or lulls

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