I. ˈanəˌdīn, -nōˌ- adjective
Etymology: Latin anodynos, from Greek anōdynos, from an- + odynē pain; akin to Armenian erkin birth pains, Lithuanian edžiótis to hurt, Old English etan to eat — more at eat
1. : serving to assuage pain : soothing
the anodyne properties of certain drugs
2. : serving or intended to soothe the mind or feelings : inducing forgetfulness, oblivion, or unconcern : relaxing
his pleasant voice and pious, anodyne opinions making of his sentences so many gentle opiates — F.M.Ford
all that doughy, woolly, anodyne writing that exists merely to fill a gap of leisure — Aldous Huxley
3. : marked by an absence of power of stimulation : bland
anodyne translations from Homer and Sophocles in … sleepy prose — George Santayana
sometimes : designedly weakened or softened (as by qualification or expurgation)
read the anodyne and doctored accounts of the transactions that had cost them their savings — New Republic
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin anodynon, from Greek anōdynon, from neuter of anōdynos
1. : a drug that allays pain (as an opiate or narcotic)
2. : something that soothes, calms, or comforts
the anodyne of work
old wounds heal; new friendships and associations come as anodynes — Nevil Shute
an escape, a distraction, an anodyne — J.C.Powys
• an·o·dyn·ic | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|dinik, -ēk adjective