soporific en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˌsəʊ.pəˈɹɪf.ɪk/ (UK)
- /ˌsɒp.əˈɹɪf.ɪk/ (UK)
- /ˌsoʊ.pəˈɹɪf.ɪk/ (US)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˌsɑp.əˈɹɪf.ɪk/ (US)
Etymology
From French soporifique, from Latin sopor (“deep sleep”). Unrelated to stupor (distinct in Proto-Indo-European).
Meanings
-
Tending to induce sleep.
I should imagine that the smooth riding and the quietness of the diesel or electric cab, coupled with the effect on the eyes of endless successions of sleepers disappearing from sight immediately under the driver's eyes, might in time have a soporific effect, so that the company of a second man, who can assist in signal observations when he is not at work in the engine cab, seems highly desirable in such conditions.
1961 July, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Trains Illustrated, page 401:It is said that the effect of eating too much lettuce is “soporific.” I have never felt sleepy after eating lettuces; but then I am not a rabbit. They certainly had a very soporific effect upon the Flopsy Bunnies!
1909, Beatrix Potter, The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies:For we are not here to understand, as perhaps some have, that an author actually falls asleep while he is writing. It is true, that readers are too apt to be so overtaken; […]To say the truth, these soporific parts are so many scenes of serious artfully interwoven, in order to contrast and set off the rest;
1749, Henry Fielding, chapter I, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book V:
-
(figuratively) Boring, dull.
COP stands for conference of the parties under the UNFCCC, and the annual meetings have swung between fractious and soporific, interspersed with moments of high drama and the occasional triumph (the Paris agreement in 2015) and disaster (Copenhagen in 2009).
2019 December 2, Fiona Harvey, “Climate crisis: what is COP and can it save the world?”, in The Guardian:The professor delivered a soporific lecture.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| soporifick | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| more soporific | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most soporific | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
arousing · rousing · invigorating · stimulating · provocative · enlivening
Deriveds
Hyponyms
Relateds
Synonyms
mindless · dull as dishwater · lame · dull · dormitive · corny · tranquilizing · soporific · colourless · hypnotic · slumberous · insipid · pedantic · hypnic · soporous · dreich · lifeless · vapid · somnolent · cold · heavy going · wooden · blah · bland · tedious · drowsy · ho-hum · uncool · stodgy · vapid · no fun at parties · longsome · plain · basic · static · somniferous · pedestrian · wan · humdrum · weaksauce · mundane · languid · banal · stupefacient · flat · beat · stuffy · straightforward · boring · somnific · uninteresting · drab · soporific · commonplace · soporiferous · snoozeworthy · monotonous · lackluster · plodding · prosy · prosaic · stupefactive · vanilla
Translations (40)
it addormentativo (tending to induce sleep) · es soporífico (tending to induce sleep) · ia soporific (tending to induce sleep) · la somnifer (tending to induce sleep) · ru вводящий в сон (tending to induce sleep) · ko 잠이 오게 하는 (tending to induce sleep) · sv sövande (tending to induce sleep) · es somnífero (tending to induce sleep) · ca narcòtic (tending to induce sleep) · ca hipnòtic (tending to induce sleep) · it addormentatore (tending to induce sleep) · ru навевающий сон (tending to induce sleep) · hy քնաբեր (tending to induce sleep) · de einschläfernd (tending to induce sleep) · pt soporífico (tending to induce sleep) · fr soporifique (tending to induce sleep) · grc ὑπνωτικός (tending to induce sleep) · ka დამაძინებელი (tending to induce sleep) · mi rongoā whakamoe (tending to induce sleep) · la somnificus (tending to induce sleep) · ru убаю́кивающий (tending to induce sleep) · it soporifero (tending to induce sleep) · ru снотво́рный (tending to induce sleep) · el υπνωτικός (tending to induce sleep) · bg сънотво́рен (tending to induce sleep) · fi unettava (tending to induce sleep) · ca soporífic (tending to induce sleep) · nl slaapverwekkend (tending to induce sleep) · ar مُنَوِّم (tending to induce sleep) · pt soporífero (tending to induce sleep) · ca somnífer (tending to induce sleep) · nl soporatief (tending to induce sleep) · kmr xewîner (tending to induce sleep) · fa خوابآور (tending to induce sleep) · cmn 催眠的 (tending to induce sleep) · bg приспива́телен (tending to induce sleep) · ca soporífer (tending to induce sleep) · ru усыпляющий (tending to induce sleep) · cs uspávající (tending to induce sleep) · ka ძილის მომგვრელი (tending to induce sleep)