Tranquillise
/ˈtræŋ.kwɪ.laɪz/noun
To make a person or animal calm, relaxed, or less agitated, especially with a drug.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin tranquillāre, a verb meaning “to calm” or “make still,” derived from tranquilluss, “quiet” or “undisturbed.”
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
tranquillus
“Quiet, still, calm, or undisturbed; originally used especially of calm seas and weather.”
Classical Latin
Latin
tranquillāre
“To calm, quiet, or make still.”
Middle English
Anglo-French/Latin
tranquille
“Calm, peaceful, or free from disturbance.”
15th Century
English
tranquill
“Calm, peaceful, and undisturbed.”
17th Century
English
tranquillise
“To make tranquil or calm; the spelling reflects the Latin-derived form.”
Modern English
British English
tranquillise
“To calm someone or an animal, especially by administering a sedative.”
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