What does "anodyne" mean?

Anodyne: Serving to assuage pain; soothing. The anodyne draught of oblivion. Burke. Note: "The word [in a medical sense] in chiefly applied to the different preparations of opium, belladonna, hyoscyamus, and lettuce." Am. Cyc.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Any medicine which allays pain, as an opiate or narcotic; anything that soothes disturbed feelings.

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