/di pres"euhnt/ , adj.
1. Med. having the quality of depressing or lowering the vital activities; sedative.
2. causing a lowering in spirits; dejecting.
3. causing a drop in value; economically depressing.
n.
4. Med. a sedative. Cf. stimulant (def. 1).
5. Chem. any agent capable of diminishing a specific property of a substance.
[ 1875-80; DEPRESS + -ANT ]