anodyne en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈæn.ə.daɪn/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English anodine, from Medieval Latin anōdynos (“stilling or relieving pain”), from Ancient Greek ἀνώδυνος (anṓdunos, “free from pain”), from ἀν- (an-, “without”) + ὀδύνη (odúnē, “pain”). Adjective sense “noncontentious” probably through French anodin (“harmless, trivial”), of same origin.
Meanings
-
Capable of soothing or eliminating pain.
Many a time has the vapor of ether been inhaled for the relief of oppressed lungs; many a time has the sought relief been thus obtained; and just so many times has the discovery of the wonderful anodyne properties of this gas, as affecting all bodily suffering, been brushed past and overlooked.
1847 June 12, Littell's Living Age, volume 13, number 161, page 483:The citrate is the most efficient as an alkali, but irritates some stomachs, the liquor the most anodyne, the acetate the most diuretic.
1910, Edward L. Keyes, Diseases of the Genito-Urinary Organs, page 211:
-
(figuratively) Soothing or relaxing.
Classical music is rather anodyne.
-
(broadly) Noncontentious, blandly agreeable, unlikely to cause offence or debate.
States typically like to stick to anodyne messages, like saving wildflowers or animals. But every so often a controversy crops up.
2010 December 9, “Rattled”, in The Economist:Near-synonyms: harmless, neutral
It all became so routine, so anodyne, so dull.
20 May 2003, The Guardian:The Vatican supports the vision of an independent Palestine living in peace alongside Israel, and Francis on Saturday called for a “just solution” to the conflict – the sort of neutral, anodyne language he is expected to adhere to during the stay.
2014 May 25, Crispian Balmer, “Pope Francis Poised To Arrive in West Bank”, in The Forward:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most anodyne | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more anodyne | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
uncontroversial · neutral · uncontentious · unexceptionable · harmless · antalgesic · bland · analgesic · inoffensive · unprovocative · antipain · painkilling · pain-relieving · innocuous
Translations (51)
sv narkotisk (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · de lindernd (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · de kraftlos (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · de seicht (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · fi neutraali (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · ca anodí (soothing or relaxing) · pt relaxante (soothing or relaxing) · fi kipua lievittävä (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · sv lugnande (soothing or relaxing) · pt paliativo (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · de belanglos (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · fi vaisu (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · sv urvattnad (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · es anodino (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · es tranquilizante (soothing or relaxing) · nl nietszeggend (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · nl bloedeloos (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · pt antálgico (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · nl analgetisch (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · ru болеутоля́ющий (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · de nichtssagend (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · de beruhigend (soothing or relaxing) · sv dövande (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · de analgetisch (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · fi rauhoittava (soothing or relaxing) · ca anodí (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · ca anodí (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · bg намаляващ болката (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · es relajante (soothing or relaxing) · nl pijnstillend (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · de verwässert (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · de gefällig (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · fr apaisant (soothing or relaxing) · de lindernd (soothing or relaxing) · nl rustgevend (soothing or relaxing) · nl weldadig (soothing or relaxing) · ru безоби́дный (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · ru успока́ивающий (soothing or relaxing) · sv blek (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · es anodino (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · nl verzachtend (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · sv smärtstillande (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · pt anódino (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · de beruhigend (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · nl flets (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · sv nedtonad (noncontentious, blandly agreeable) · de wohltuend (soothing or relaxing) · pt anódino (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · nl kalmerend (soothing or relaxing) · de schmerzstillend (capable of soothing or eliminating pain) · bg успокояващ (soothing or relaxing)