I. när-ˈkä-tik 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 not
2. : something that soothes, relieves, or lulls
II. adjective
Date: 1526
1.
a. : having the properties of or yielding a narcotic
b. : inducing mental lethargy
2. : of, induced by, or concerned with narcotics
3. : of, involving, or intended for narcotic addicts
• nar·cot·i·cal·ly -ti-k(ə-)lē adverb