Narcose
/nɑːrˈkoʊs/noun
A state of narcosis or drug-induced insensibility, especially anesthesia.
Did you know?Narcose belongs to the same Greek word-family associated with narcotic sleep and the legendary narcissus flower, whose name was linked in antiquity with numbing effects.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ner-
“To turn numb, become stiff, or lose sensation”
Ancient Greek
Greek
nárkē (νάρκη)
“Numbness, torpor, or paralysis”
Ancient Greek
Greek
nárkōsis (νάρκωσις)
“The act or condition of becoming numb”
Late Antiquity
Latin
narcosis
“Numbness or insensibility”
19th Century
French
narcose
“Narcosis; anesthesia or drug-induced insensibility”
19th–20th Century
English
narcose
“A rare term for narcosis or anesthetic unconsciousness”
Explore more surprising origins