Morphine
/ˈmɔːr.fiːn/noun
A powerful narcotic alkaloid used as a painkiller and sedative.
Did you know?Morphine was named in 1817 by German pharmacist Friedrich Sertürner after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams, because its sleep-inducing power felt almost divine.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Μορφεύς (Morpheús)
“Morpheus, the god of dreams who shapes visions in sleep”
1800s
French
morphine
“A newly isolated narcotic alkaloid from opium”
1817
German
Morphium
“Sertürner's coined name for the opium alkaloid, inspired by Morpheus”
19th Century
English
morphine
“The English form of the drug name, adopted from scientific French/German usage”
Modern English
English
morphine
“A strong analgesic and sedative derived from opium”
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