sedativus

Forms

sēdātīvus (feminine sēdātīva, neuter sēdātīvum); first/second-declension adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin sēdātus + -īvus, from the perfect passive participle of sēdō (“to settle, calm”).^[2][1] The verb is the causative of sedeō (“to sit”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is a Medieval Latin word.^[1][4] In British sources Robert Grosseteste uses it in the sense “tending to settle or allay”, with a genitive of what is settled.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In medieval medicine it meant calming or allaying, the sense in which Old French sedatif and the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese sedativo took it over.^[1][3] English borrowed it in the early 15th century from Old French and directly from Medieval Latin.^[3]

Timeline

• early 15th century – Borrowed into English as sedative, “tending to calm or soothe”, in medicine.^[3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (Medieval Latin) Calming, allaying, sedative.^[1][4]
2. (Medieval Latin) Tending to settle or resolve (with a genitive).^[2]

Related words

• English sedative

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c 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
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de