opiatus

Forms

opiātus (feminine opiāta, neuter opiātum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin opium.^[1][2][3] The Salernitan Questions already explain that these medicines are named after opium because opium goes into them.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records the neuter noun opiātum “opiate” from before 1250.^[4] The British sources use the adjective of medicine containing opium or another narcotic, and the feminine as a noun for an opiate.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Medieval physicians named opiātae among compound remedies, and Roger Bacon warned that an opiate medicine should not be given before six months.^[3] Du Cange explains it as sleep-inducing and compares Italian oppiato.^[2]

English took opiate as a noun for a medicine containing opium in the early 15th century, and as an adjective in the 1540s.^[5]

Timeline

• before 1250 – The neuter noun opiātum is recorded.^[4]
• early 15th century – English borrows it as opiate, a medicine containing opium.^[5]
• 1540s – English uses opiate as an adjective.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Containing opium or another narcotic; opiate.^[3][1]
2. Inducing sleep, soporific.^[2]
3. (feminine as noun) opiāta, an opiate, a narcotic.^[3]
4. (neuter as noun) opiātum, an opiate.^[4]

Related words

• English opiate

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
3. ^ a b c d e f Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com