/ sɪˈdeɪt; NAmE / adjective , verb
■ adjective [ usually before noun ]
1.
slow, calm and relaxed
SYN unhurried :
We followed the youngsters at a more sedate pace.
2.
quiet, especially in a way that lacks excitement :
a sedate country town
3.
( of a person ) quiet and serious in a way that seems formal :
a sedate, sober man
► sed·ate·ly adverb
■ verb
[ vn ] [ often passive ] to give sb drugs in order to make them calm and or to make them sleep
SYN tranquillize :
Most of the patients are heavily sedated.
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WORD ORIGIN
adjective late Middle English (originally as a medical term meaning not sore or painful , also calm, tranquil ): from Latin sedatus , past participle of sedare settle, from sedere sit.
verb 1960s: back-formation from sedation .