adj
sedate
sih-DAYT
adj
1
Calm, unhurried, and dignified in manner.
"The retirement home had a sedate, peaceful atmosphere."
"He gave a sedate little nod and carried on reading."
verb
1
To give someone a drug that calms them or makes them sleep.
"The vet sedated the dog before the X-ray."
How to Use Sedate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCalm and composed — or, as a verb, to make someone calm through medication.
Common pairings
sedate atmosphere
sedate the patient
heavily sedated
Word Forms
more sedate comparative, sedater comparative, sedated past tense, sedates singular, most sedate superlative, sedatest superlative
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The retirement home had a _____, peaceful atmosphere.
Etymology
From Latin sedatus, "calmed, settled," from sedare, "to calm" — ultimately from the same root as "sit."