Laudanum
/ˈlɔːdənəm/noun
A strong drug made from opium.
The doctor prescribed laudanum to relieve his severe pain.
Often appears as...
- prescribed laudanum
- took laudanum
Usage tips
Medical
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Medicine
Laudanum was commonly used in the past before modern painkillers.
In the Victorian era, laudanum was often used to treat a variety of ailments.
Pro Tip 2/3Archaic Usage
Today, 'laudanum' is rare and suggests old-fashioned or historical settings.
Reading 19th-century novels, one frequently encounters references to laudanum.
Pro Tip 3/3Addictive Caution
Laudanum is opium-based and was highly addictive, an important detail in literature and history.
The character's downfall was partly due to his addiction to laudanum.
Compare with
elixirmixturenarcoticopiatepotionrestorativesedativetincture
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